Regenerative Hospitality through Biophilic Design: Enhancing Guest Well-Being in Urban Hotels

Abstract

This paper investigates the transformative role of biophilic design in the transition from sustainable to regenerative hospitality within urban hotel environments. While traditional sustainability focuses on "net-zero" impact and harm reduction, regenerative hospitality is defined as a holistic management paradigm that seeks to create "net-positive" outcomes, actively restoring local ecosystems and enhancing the socio-ecological vitality of both guests and the surrounding community. The study employs a concurrent mixed-methods design to examine guest perceptions and behavioral responses to biophilic elements such as natural lighting, indoor vegetation, and organic materials. Findings indicate that these features do more than just improve guest well-being and emotional health; they serve as the primary mechanism for achieving regenerative outcomes. By integrating nature-based solutions—such as living walls and green infrastructure—urban hotels function as living entities that mitigate the urban heat island effect, improve local air quality, and foster biodiversity. The research demonstrates that biophilic design facilitates a salutogenic framework, where the built environment acts as a catalyst for human health restoration, while simultaneously lowering energy consumption and environmental footprints. Empirical data reveals that 73.9% of guests perceive biophilic features as a direct signal of a hotel’s environmental commitment, suggesting that these elements bridge the gap between psychological restoration and ecological stewardship. This paper argues that biophilic design is not merely an aesthetic choice but a fundamental requirement for the regenerative model. It encourages industry stakeholders to move beyond "efficiency" metrics toward "effectiveness" metrics that measure a hotel's capacity to give back more to the environment and society than it consumes. By fostering a symbiotic relationship between the guest and the natural world, biophilic design establishes urban hotels as regenerative hubs essential for resilient, health-oriented city development.