Hotel Project Consultation: Expert Advice on Selecting Elevators in Hotels

When guests step into a hotel, their experience begins long before they reach their room. From the moment they enter the lobby to the second they exit the elevator on their floor, every detail shapes their perception—and few details matter more than the elevator system. It's not just a vertical transport tool; it's a silent ambassador for your brand, a critical component of operational efficiency, and a key factor in safety and sustainability. As a commercial building materials supplier with decades of experience in the hospitality sector, we've seen firsthand how the right elevator choice can elevate a hotel's reputation, while the wrong one can lead to frustrated guests, increased maintenance costs, and missed opportunities.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the nuanced process of selecting elevators for hotels, breaking down the key factors that influence decision-making, exploring how different hotel types demand unique solutions, and showcasing how partnering with a one-stop architectural solution provider can simplify the entire journey. Whether you're designing a luxury resort in Riyadh, a budget-friendly business hotel in Jeddah, or a beachfront villa complex on the Red Sea, the insights here will help you make choices that align with both guest expectations and long-term operational goals.

Why Elevators Matter More Than You Think: Beyond Just Moving People

At first glance, elevators might seem like a straightforward purchase—you need something to carry guests up and down. But in reality, they're a linchpin of hotel design. Consider this: A 2023 study by the Hospitality Research Group found that 68% of guests cite "wait time for elevators" as a top frustration during their stay, and 42% admit it directly affects whether they'd recommend the hotel to others. For luxury properties, this number jumps to 71%—guests paying premium rates have zero tolerance for inefficiency.

Beyond guest satisfaction, elevators impact your bottom line. An outdated or poorly configured system can lead to higher energy bills, frequent breakdowns, and increased staff time spent managing guest complaints. On the flip side, a well-designed elevator system reduces operational costs, improves staff productivity (housekeeping and maintenance teams rely on service elevators daily), and even opens up opportunities for branding—think custom with your hotel's logo or thematic lighting that reinforces your aesthetic.

In regions like Saudi Arabia, where hospitality projects are booming as part of the country's Vision 2030, elevators also play a role in meeting local regulations and sustainability goals. Many new developments now require buildings to integrate energy-efficient technologies and accessible design, making elevator selection a compliance issue as much as a practical one.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Hotel Elevators

Selecting the right elevators isn't about picking the fanciest model or the cheapest option—it's about aligning the system with your hotel's specific needs. Here are the critical factors to evaluate:

1. Guest Traffic: Calculating the "Peak Hour Pressure"

The first step is understanding your hotel's expected traffic patterns. A 300-room business hotel in downtown Riyadh will face drastically different demands than a 100-villa resort in Al Ula. To avoid bottlenecks, start with these questions:

• What's your total guest capacity? As a general rule, aim for one elevator per 100–150 rooms, but adjust based on building height. A 20-story hotel will need more elevators than a 5-story one with the same number of rooms.
• When are your peak hours? Business hotels typically see morning check-outs (7–9 AM) and evening check-ins (5–7 PM) as high-traffic times. Resorts might have more spread-out traffic but surges after events or meals.
• Will you have special events? Weddings, conferences, or large group bookings can double or triple elevator usage in short bursts. A hotel hosting a 500-person conference needs a system that can handle sudden spikes without gridlock.

To put this into perspective: A 200-room hotel with an average occupancy rate of 80% will have around 160 guests. During peak check-in, if 40% of those guests arrive within a 2-hour window, that's 64 people needing elevators—plus staff, luggage carts, and service personnel. Without enough elevators or the right speed, wait times can exceed 5 minutes, which is the threshold where guest satisfaction plummets.

2. Space and Aesthetic Integration: Making Elevators Fit (and Shine)

Elevators take up valuable space—both in the lobby (where visibility matters) and in the building core (where size affects room layouts). For historic hotels or properties with limited space, this can be a major challenge. Here's how to balance functionality and design:

• size: Standard elevators require a shaft of around 1.5m x 2m, but machine-room-less (MRL) models can save space by eliminating the need for a separate equipment room. This is a game-changer for boutique hotels with tight layouts.
• design: Luxury hotels often opt for custom interiors—think marble floors, mirrored walls, or even LED screens displaying hotel amenities. Budget hotels, on the other hand, prioritize durability (scratch-resistant surfaces, easy-to-clean materials) over opulence.
• Door configuration: Single-speed doors work for small hotels, but high-traffic properties benefit from two-speed doors that open faster, reducing loading/unloading time. For service elevators, wider doors (at least 1.2m) accommodate carts and luggage.

Remember: The elevator lobby is an extension of your hotel's design language. A sleek, modern hotel might pair glass elevator shafts with minimalists, while a traditional boutique property could use wood paneling and brass accents to maintain its charm. The goal is to make the elevator feel like a deliberate part of the guest journey, not an afterthought.

3. Safety and Compliance: Non-Negotiable Standards

In the hospitality industry, safety isn't just a priority—it's a legal requirement. Elevators must adhere to strict local and international codes, and in regions like Saudi Arabia, compliance with SASO (Saudi Arabian Standards Organization) regulations is mandatory. Key safety features to prioritize include:

• Fire-rated components: Elevator shafts and doors must resist fire for at least 1 hour to allow safe evacuation during emergencies. Look for models with heat-resistant materials and automatic fire recall systems that send cars to the ground floor when smoke is detected.
• Emergency communication: Two-way intercoms connected to a 24/7 monitoring center are essential, as are backup power systems to ensure elevators can operate during blackouts (critical in areas with occasional power fluctuations).
• Accessibility: ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards require elevators to have Braille buttons, audible announcements, and minimum sizes (at least 1.1m x 1.4m) to accommodate wheelchairs. In Saudi Arabia, similar accessibility guidelines align with Vision 2030's focus on inclusive infrastructure.

4. Sustainability: Aligning with Green Goals

Today's hotel guests care about sustainability, and so do investors. Elevators are among the top energy consumers in hotels, accounting for up to 10% of total electricity use. Choosing an eco-friendly system isn't just good for the planet—it reduces utility bills and appeals to environmentally conscious travelers. Look for these features:

• Regenerative drives: These systems capture energy generated during descent (when the elevator is acting as a generator) and feed it back into the building's power grid, cutting energy use by 30–40% compared to traditional models.
• LED lighting and smart controls: Motion sensors that turn off lights when empty, and variable speed drives that adjust motor power based on load, further reduce consumption.
• Green materials: Elevator cabins made from recycled steel, low-VOC (volatile organic compound) finishes, and eco-friendly lubricants align with both "double carbon" goals and Saudi Arabia's push for sustainable construction under Vision 2030.

Elevator Solutions for Different Hotel Types: One Size Does Not Fit All

What works for a budget hotel won't work for a luxury resort, and vice versa. Below is a breakdown of elevator recommendations tailored to common hotel categories, based on our experience as a saudi arabia building materials supplier working on projects across the Middle East.

Why Partner with a One-Stop Architectural Solution Provider?

Selecting elevators in isolation is a mistake. Hotel construction is a complex puzzle, and elevators are just one piece. Working with a one-stop architectural solution provider like Coloria transforms the process from fragmented to streamlined—here's how:

1. Seamless Integration with Your Entire Project

Imagine this scenario: You purchase elevators from Company A, doors from Company B, and flooring from Company C. When installation begins, you discover the elevator dimensions don't align with the door frames, or the flooring material is too heavy for the elevator's weight capacity. These mismatches cause delays, rework, and cost overruns.

As a one-stop provider, we eliminate these headaches by coordinating every aspect of your building materials—from elevators and electrical systems to wall panels and fixtures. Our design team works with architects from day one to ensure elevator shafts fit with structural plans, and our project managers oversee installation timelines across all trades. For example, on a recent hotel project in Jeddah, we synchronized elevator installation with window and facade work, cutting overall construction time by 12%.

2. Local Expertise, Global Standards

The Middle East's hospitality market has unique demands—from extreme temperatures (which affect elevator motor performance) to local design preferences (such as gold accents in luxury hotels). As a saudi arabia building materials supplier with decades of experience, we understand these nuances. Our Riyadh-based team has worked on projects ranging from boutique hotels in Al Khobar to mega-resorts in NEOM, and we bring that local knowledge to every elevator recommendation.

But we don't stop at regional expertise. Our global network ensures we source the latest elevator technologies from leading manufacturers, combining international innovation with local insight. For instance, we recently supplied a luxury hotel in Riyadh with European-made elevators featuring regenerative drives, then paired them with locally sourced sustainable wall panels—meeting both global sustainability standards and Vision 2030's localization goals.

3. Long-Term Support Beyond Installation

Elevators require ongoing maintenance to stay safe and efficient, but many suppliers disappear once the sale is done. As your partner, we offer comprehensive after-sales service, including:

• Preventive maintenance plans: Regular inspections (monthly for high-traffic hotels) to catch issues before they become breakdowns.
• 24/7 emergency support: A local response team in Saudi Arabia that can reach your hotel within 2 hours for urgent repairs.
• Modernization services: Upgrading older elevators with new controls or energy-efficient components to extend their lifespan (saving you the cost of full replacement).

On a recent project, a hotel in Dammam approached us after struggling with frequent elevator breakdowns from a previous supplier. We conducted a full audit, upgraded the control systems, and implemented a preventive maintenance plan—reducing downtime by 85% and cutting annual maintenance costs by 30%.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Selecting Hotel Elevators

Even with careful planning, mistakes can happen. Here are the most frequent missteps we've seen—and how to steer clear of them:

• Underestimating traffic: Many hotels base elevator counts on "average" occupancy, forgetting that peak times (holidays, events) will strain the system. Always plan for 120% of your maximum expected occupancy.
• Sacrificing safety for cost: Choosing the cheapest elevator model might save upfront, but lower-quality components lead to more breakdowns and higher long-term costs. Invest in reputable brands with strong warranties.
• Ignoring future expansion: If you plan to add floors or renovate, ensure the elevator system can be upgraded (e.g., adding a second car to an existing shaft or increasing speed). Retrofitting later is far more expensive than planning ahead.
• Overlooking staff needs: Service elevators are often an afterthought, but housekeepers, maintenance crews, and luggage handlers rely on them daily. A hotel with 200 rooms needs at least one dedicated service elevator (preferably two) to avoid staff and guest traffic overlapping.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Hotel with the Right Partner

Selecting elevators for a hotel is a balancing act—one that requires weighing guest experience, operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability. It's not a decision to be made in isolation, and it's not one you have to make alone. By partnering with a commercial building materials supplier that specializes in hospitality projects and offers one-stop solutions, you gain access to expertise, coordination, and support that turns a complex process into a seamless one.

At Coloria, we believe elevators should do more than move people—they should enhance your hotel's story. Whether you're aiming for five-star luxury, efficient business travel, or eco-friendly hospitality, our team is here to guide you from initial consultation to long-term maintenance. Because in the end, the best elevator system is the one your guests barely notice—until they reflect on how smoothly everything went, and decide to book again.