Silence as a new luxury for the business hotel guest

‘Silent pods turn hotels into flexible work and meeting places’

For the modern hotel guest, a good bed is no longer enough. Those travelling for work also expect a place for a confidential video call or a meeting. With the emergence of silent pods, hotels are adding a new function: that of flexible work and meeting place, where peace and privacy are increasingly perceived as a luxury. According to Yusuf Zaman of ZMN Interieur from Enschede, this perfectly matches the changing needs of business travellers: “Silence is becoming a new luxury in hospitality.”

Zaman made a notable career switch in autumn 2023. After years in management positions in the transport sector, he decided to start his own business. The reason was a recognisable frustration: the lack of quiet spaces for online meetings and concentrated work. “In my previous positions, there was rarely a suitable place for a video call or phone call,” he says. “You often had to reserve an entire meeting room for a short call. That felt inefficient and cost productivity.”

That experience gave him the idea to focus on mobile, soundproof work pods. Silent pods already existed, but according to Zaman, there was room for improvement in design, comfort and sustainability. Thus his company ZMN Interieur was born, aiming to create flexible workplaces that can be deployed immediately.

Plug-and-play

The core concept is simple: a quiet, enclosed workstation that can be placed anywhere. The pods are plug-and-play, easy to install and move if necessary. “You don't need to move walls or remodel spaces,” Zaman explains. “A pod can be placed in a lobby, lounge or meeting room and moved again later if the layout changes.”

Seventeen models are currently available, ranging from compact call booths for one person to meeting pods for groups of up to eight people. The booths are equipped with ventilation, lighting and charging points and offer noise reduction of up to about 32 decibels. This enables professional video calling or confidential consultations without background noise. With their modern design and available colours, they can be coordinated with hotel interiors.

Commercial opportunities

Although the pods are so far mainly placed in offices, Zaman sees great opportunities in the hotel industry. According to him, hotels have long since ceased to be just places to stay, but also work and meeting places. “More and more guests are working during their stay. Lobbies are lively and cosy, but not always suitable for a confidential conversation. With a silent pod, you offer a quiet workplace without disturbing the open atmosphere.”

In addition, the booths offer commercial opportunities. Hotels can use them as a premium service or have them booked by the hour for meetings and video calls. One example is Van der Valk Hotel Blijdorp, to which ZMN Interieur will soon supply three large meeting pods used as rentable meeting rooms. “In this way, the hotel creates an extra service as well as a new revenue stream,” says Zaman.

Besides purchase, operational leasing is also possible. “Instead of a large investment, hotels can also opt for a fixed monthly amount. This way, the pods are immediately deployable without pressure on the investment budget.”

Sustainability

Sustainability plays an important role in the development. The pods are made from recycled water bottles and are fully recyclable. “Hotels often have ambitious sustainability goals,” says Zaman. “With this solution, they can support them without compromising on design or comfort.”

Summing up, he argues that silence is the new luxury. “With silent pods, hotels can offer tranquillity, privacy and functionality in one. In doing so, they enhance their service as well as their appeal to the modern business traveller.”