Checkout time has come for palatial hotel lobbies

The opulent hotel lobby of tradition and moviedom will give way to cozier settings and in many cases to high-tech do-it-yourself affairs for the sake of cost-efficiency and hygiene sensitivity, experts predict. “The desire for in-person interaction will never go away, so most likely, hotels will adopt a hybrid model, with both kiosks and in-person attendants, or those on the cusp of technology may opt for an all-automated experience,” says interior design executive Jessica Shaw.