Expedia.com CafŽ

www.fitchww.com

Project:

Size: 1,182 sq. ft.

Category: New Restaurants

Firm: AAD:fitch

Developer/Owner: HMSHost / Expedia.com

The design objective for this airport bar/restaurant was to create a consumer environment that reinforces the Expedia brand and increases awareness of the Expedia website. The Expedia.com Café provides a place to relax and recharge, as well as to conduct business or communicate via the Internet. The virtual brand is brought to life by maintaining the familiar colors, graphics and brand identity from the website, then incorporating them into a bricks-and-mortar environment.

A plasma screen outside the front entrance plays a seasonal travel video on a continuous loop. The video is positioned under a sound dome to draw the Transumer (transportation consumer) to the café entrance. A ceiling globe mural welcomes the patron. The custom bar top was designed from a map of the area and incorporates local points of interest indicated by Expedia icons and pointed to by Expedia "airplane arrows," as well as travel trivia. A metal ring shelving system provides bar back storage and display. The floating soffit over the bar follows the curved line of the bar top, while custom pendant light fixtures dangling from the soffit illuminate the bar area. The "Road Warrior" dining tables feature a plug-in for two phone jacks, two electrical outlets, and Internet connectivity, all free of charge. The dining chairs have an ergonomic design and hydraulic adjustment. The floor is a holographic vinyl tile with a diamond pattern that shifts effect with the angle of view. The result is a unique Internet lounge that provides the ultimate in convenience for the Transumer.