IBIS Styles Venus Hotel

Authors’ Comment

Revitalizing the Past: Transforming Hotel Zamfira into IBIS Styles Venus
In a bold move to breathe new life into the Venus resort, the redesign of the IBIS Styles Hotel Venus stands out as a standard of sustainability and brand alignment. This project has not only transformed a 1971 hotel into a modern and exotic destination, but has also set a new standard for the hospitality industry in the region.

Project Objectives:
The main challenge was to integrate the playful "Jungle" theme while adhering to IBIS brand standards, all in a record time of only 8 months and with a budget optimized to the max. The goal was to attract young families and millennials to a resort traditionally aimed at an older demographic, offering a vibrant and unconventional experience.

Unique Approach:
1. Rapid Transformation: the entire redevelopment was conceptualized in just 4 months and implemented between February and June 2024, demonstrating exceptional efficiency.
2. Sustainable Design: 70% of the existing furniture and floor finishes were retained and reinstated, significantly reducing costs and environmental impact.
3. Thematic Consistency: the "Jungle" theme has been creatively integrated throughout the space, from customized corridor carpeting with animal print and playful messaging, to monkey-shaped light fixtures and wall graphics inspired by hieroglyphs and wild animals.
4. Urban Culture: Two striking murals combine themes from classical art with pop culture symbols, creating a unique and contemporary interpretation of the "Jungle" concept.

Key Interventions:
- Redesign of 180 rooms harmoniously integrating the jungle theme.
- Transforming corridors into captivating themed journeys.
- Renovation of the reception area with co-working spaces and children's playground.
- Reimagining the restaurant with diverse areas tailored to guest preferences.
- Improving the pool area by adding a lounge and bar area.
- Refreshing facades in vibrant colors and brand-compliant signage.
- Planting over 2000 new trees and shrubs, including a unique cactus garden.

Overcoming Challenges:
To meet budget and time constraints, we called upon creativity and adaptability. We integrated existing elements with new elements, repurposed old furniture and created custom solutions from old or SH pieces to achieve a cohesive and impactful result.

Impact and Results:
The hotel has received extremely positive feedback from guests, attracting visitors from other hotels and capturing the attention of the local press. It has successfully positioned itself as a vibrant, family-friendly destination in a traditional resort area aimed at an older clientele.

Conclusion:
The redevelopment of the IBIS Styles Venus Hotel exemplifies how budget constraints can drive creative design, and sustainability and brand alignment can converge to create a transformative experience in the hospitality industry. By reimagining a space frozen in time with a fresh thematic approach, this project not only revitalized a property, but has the potential to revive an entire tourist area, setting a new benchmark for creative and sustainable hotel design in Romania.
The project team has thus succeeded in creating a unique destination that attracts a new generation of tourists and redefines the Black Sea vacation experience.