Is 2027 the Right Year to Renovate Your Hotel or Restaurant?

Key Takeaways:

  • Start planning your hospitality renovation before 2027 begins to give your team more time for design, approvals, and project decisions.
  • Understand what a hotel renovation involves beyond updating finishes and furnishings.
  • Identify the signs that a restaurant remodel may make sense for your business.
  • Consider guest experience, operational needs, brand identity, and long-term property goals when planning renovations.
  • Know what to discuss with a hospitality architect before starting the design process.
  • Review relevant hospitality projects to see how different spaces support distinct guest experiences.
  • Begin the conversation early so your 2027 project has a clearer path from planning to completion.

If 2027 is the year you plan to renovate a hotel, restaurant, resort, brewery, or another hospitality property, you should begin planning now. Waiting until January to speak with a hospitality architect leaves you with just 6 to 12 months to assess the property, establish priorities, develop designs, and prepare for construction.

That lead time gives hospitality teams room to make decisions that shape far more than finishes and aesthetics. A renovation affects guest areas, staff circulation, amenities, dining spaces, building systems, and the property’s overall identity. Starting early gives your team more time to evaluate what needs to change and how those changes support the property’s next phase.

The market also gives operators a reason to think ahead. The U.S. Travel Association’s May 2026 forecast projects domestic leisure travel spending to grow beyond 2026, following 2.1% growth in 2025. Meanwhile, the American Hotel & Lodging Association projected U.S. hotel occupancy at 63.38% for 2025. 

Together, these figures point to continued travel activity and a market where properties need to keep pace with guest expectations.

In this blog, we look at what hospitality teams must consider when preparing for a renovation, how early planning shapes the project, and how properties must respond to changing guest expectations.

What a Hotel Renovation Actually Involves

A comprehensive hotel renovation affects nearly every part of a property, from guest rooms and public spaces to food-and-beverage areas, amenities, circulation routes, and back-of-house operations. Rather than treating these updates as a series of cosmetic changes, operators need to consider how each space functions on its own and connects with the rest of the property.

That broader view starts with identifying where the property is falling short. Guest expectations may have changed, operational needs may have shifted, or certain spaces may no longer support how the property is used. Reviewing these areas early gives operators a clearer picture of what needs to change and how the spaces work together more effectively.

With those priorities defined, the renovation moves beyond surface-level improvements and focuses on creating a cohesive, functional property that feels relevant to today’s guests. This is where thoughtful planning improves the guest experience while also addressing practical concerns for staff and operators.

Which Hotel Areas Should You Evaluate First?

Begin with the spaces guests and employees use most:

  • Guest rooms and suites
  • Lobby and arrival areas
  • Restaurants and bars
  • Meeting and event spaces
  • Guest amenities
  • Staff and service areas
  • Outdoor spaces and connections between buildings

Reviewing these areas together reveals opportunities that may be missed when each space is considered separately.

When a Restaurant Remodel Makes Financial Sense

A restaurant remodel makes sense when the existing space no longer supports daily operations or the experience guests expect. Crowded circulation, inefficient service paths, dated finishes, poor acoustics, and underused areas affect both staff and customers.

The market also highlights the value of the dining experience. The National Restaurant Association projected U.S. restaurant and foodservice sales to reach $1.5 trillion in 2025, and its research found that 64% of full-service customers considered the dining experience more important than price.

Layout, lighting, acoustics, seating, and atmosphere shape that experience, so they’re worth reviewing during a remodel.

TDP brings experience across a range of hospitality projects, adapting each design to its setting, purpose, guest experience, and existing conditions:

  • 4 By 4 Brewing: Created a hospitality environment that complements the brewery setting and supports an engaging customer experience.
  • The Workshop at Finley Farms: Approached the adaptive reuse of a historic structure while retaining its original character and integrating it into a contemporary hospitality setting.
  • Fun Mountain at Big Cedar Lodge: Developed a recreation and entertainment destination focused on active use, family activities, and movement between multiple experiences.
  • The Truman House at Big Cedar Lodge: Created a private, residential-style retreat centered on comfort, privacy, and a more intimate guest experience.

What Should You Look for in Your Current Restaurant?

Walk through the space during both quiet periods and peak service. Pay attention to:

  • Where guests gather or experience congestion
  • How employees move between service areas
  • Whether seating supports the current concept
  • Which spaces are rarely used
  • Whether the visual identity still fits the business
  • How dining, service, gathering, and outdoor areas connect

This review helps you decide whether a targeted remodel or broader hospitality renovation makes sense.

How Early Planning Can Shape Your 2027 Project

Starting in Q4 2026 gives you time to define what the project should accomplish before design decisions move too far ahead. Begin by reviewing the property’s current condition, operational needs, guest feedback, and long-term plans. This creates a clearer starting point for evaluating the site, setting priorities, and deciding how architecture and interiors should work together.

An early conversation with a hospitality architect also gives owners more time to explore potential directions, ask questions, and prepare for the next stages of the project.

Pro Tip: At TDP, we bring planning, architecture, interior design, and project management together to help connect the different parts of a project. Our architecture services and interior design services support the project from different angles while keeping the overall vision connected.

What to Ask Before You Hire a Hospitality Architect

Choosing a hospitality architect should start with more than a portfolio review. Ask how the firm approaches the specific conditions of your property and how it balances guest experience with operational needs.

Consider asking:

  • Have you worked on hotels, restaurants, resorts, breweries, or similar hospitality spaces?
  • How do you evaluate an existing property before recommending changes?
  • How do you account for guest movement and staff circulation?
  • How do you approach projects that need to remain operational during construction?
  • Can your team support architecture, interiors, and project management?
  • How do you involve owners and operators throughout the process?
  • What information should we prepare before design begins?

What a Hospitality Portfolio Can Tell You

A hospitality portfolio shows how different properties serve their specific functions, audiences, and guest expectations. It also highlights the factors that shape successful renovation and development projects.

  • Project type and purpose: Each space reflects its intended use, whether for lodging, dining, entertainment, or events.
  • Guest experience: Layout, atmosphere, amenities, and movement influence how visitors interact with the property.
  • Aesthetic direction: Materials, finishes, lighting, and spatial planning establish the space’s look and feel.
  • Operational requirements: Planning accounts for staff movement, service areas, maintenance, and daily operations.
  • Property identity: The finished space reflects the property’s character, location, brand, and target audience.

Is 2027 the Right Time for Your Hospitality Renovation?

For many hospitality operators, the better question is not whether to wait for 2027. It is whether the project deserves a head start in 2026.

Review your property’s condition, guest experience, operational needs, brand direction, and future plans. Then decide what should be preserved, changed, or added.

Starting those conversations now gives your team time to define the project before the new year begins. It also gives your hospitality architect more context before design decisions take shape.

Frequently Asked Questions

How early should I start planning a hotel renovation for 2027?

Start conversations during Q4 2026 if you are targeting work in 2027. Early planning gives your team time to review the property, define priorities, develop design concepts, and prepare for later project stages.

What does a typical hotel renovation include?

A hotel renovation includes guest rooms, lobbies, restaurants, amenities, meeting spaces, exterior areas, staff spaces, and building systems. The scope depends on the property’s condition and goals.

When should a restaurant consider a remodel?

Consider a remodel when the current layout, finishes, circulation, or guest experience no longer support the business. Operational issues and changes in the restaurant concept also signal that the space needs to be reconsidered.

What does a hospitality architect do?

A hospitality architect plans spaces around the needs of guests, owners, operators, and staff. Their work includes site evaluation, planning, architecture, coordination, and support through construction.

Can an architect help with both hospitality renovations and new construction?

Yes. A firm experienced in hospitality evaluates an existing property for renovation while also helping owners plan new facilities. The right direction depends on the property’s condition, site, operational needs, and long-term goals.

Let’s Plan Your 2027 Hospitality Project

If 2027 is the year you want to improve your hotel, restaurant, resort, or other hospitality property, now is a good time to begin the conversation. 

Torgerson Design Partners brings planning, architecture, interior design, and project management together to help hospitality owners shape projects around their property’s needs, guest experience, and long-term goals. From early planning and concept development through design and project coordination, we work to connect each stage of the process.

With experience across hotels, restaurants, breweries, resorts, and adaptive reuse projects, our team helps owners explore what is possible for an existing property and develop a clear direction for the work ahead.

Start Your Project With Us!