Hotel Guest Room Design: Shariah Compliant Design |

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Hotel is part of tourism sector that gave commercial value to the country’s Gross

Development Product (GDP). People stay in resort for rest, fun and business matters.

They may stay for overnight or three days and two nights. While enjoying the

activities during the stay, room condition plays important role to accommodate them.

Besides, room is one of market segment in hospitality industry that assisted their stay

and makes huge profit to the hotel apart from F&B (Food and Beverages) and others

(Nur’ Hidayah et. al, 2012).

Room conditions such as design, interior and room layout will boost the

identity of the resort that the hotelier to post on the eye of the tourist. Most tourists,

who come to the Malaysia, are from Indonesia and Singapore (Source Tourism

Malaysia). Therefore, it is more encouraged if the room design follows the Islamic

principle to assure the Muslim tourist that the hotel completely cooperates in Shariah

Compliant Hotel (SCH).

However, there are not many rooms layout tested with the Shariah Compliant

Design (SCD). Yet, it is more in terms of operational and financial hospitality system.

Therefore, it is recommended the spatial layout of room design must be in line with

the Islamic rules and principles as outlined in the Quran, Hadith and the opinion of

Muslim legal scholars. National religion of Malaysia is Islam. Therefore providing

immense opportunities for Shariah Compliant Hotel is an opportunity to attract more

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global Muslim tourists and at the same time generate more income, increase Muslim

employment rate, and educate people the idea of Shariah Compliant.

1.2 RESEARCH BACKGROUND

Hotel is one of the hospitality industry providing accommodation, meals, and other

services for travellers and tourists, by the night (Oxford dictionary). Architects and

builders built hotel based on the clients’ requirements supporting with culture, belief,

climate, status, financial and preferences. When the tourist or travellers travel away

from their home, resort is the setting place for the stay (travellers’ house).

In Quran, Allah mention the importance of the house as a rest sanctuary and

the hotel can be as functions as what a house is but in the number of occupant’s

occupied with an additional amenities provided by the hotel.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah

said, “Travelling is a torment because it deprives a traveller of his food, drink and

sleep. So when one of you has accomplished his purpose of journey, let him return

home quickly.”

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

(Hadith Al Bukhari and Muslim).

This shows that when the traveller is in a journey, there should be some

accommodation to meet their needs and requirements in order to assure comfortable

trip. Despite this, the design of hotel should give detail consideration in many aspects.

One of the considerations is architectural design. Neither the Quran nor the Sunnah

provided detail guidelines of room design. There is no standardization of size how the

room should be either in square meters nor height. However, Quran and Sunnah

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provide a systematic review of the source that guides Man to design a space.

Therefore the designers should treat these guiding principles as guidelines in their

design. In other words, the design of the Muslim room should be the indication of the

Islamic beliefs and the value of the occupants.

1.3 ISSUE AND PROBLEM STATEMENT

As the world tourism market is constantly growing, at the same time the shariah

compliant concept is also gaining popularity in the hospitality industry. This concept

is significantly contributing to the growth of Muslim tourist influx into the country.

Therefore, by promoting Shariah Compliant Hotel can ease the Muslim tourist to

enjoy their stay yet still performing their religious duties easily. However, for layman,

they are exposed more on Halal product or Dry hotel in production of food instead of

Shariah Compliant Hotel (SCH) of the whole operational, design and financial system

of hotel (Rosenberg and Chufany, 2009). In addition, Shariah Compliant Hotel is a

Dry Hotel, but Dry hotel is not a Shariah Compliant hotel.

According to United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO),

Malaysia is one of the top tourist destinations that is most visited by the Muslim

tourists (Figure 1.0). The tourists spent most the stay in Malaysia compare to other

tourists and it is forecast to increase greatly the number of tourist influx in the future.

The arrival of Muslims tourist to the country brings a great opportunity to the country

to expand the tourism sector mostly Islamic tourism. Moreover, the idea of setting up

SCH is promising considering the growing numbers of Muslim tourists. Thus the

tourism sectors can generate more income when the Muslims needs can be sated and

will welcome more Muslim tourist. Nevertheless, the introduction and implementation

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of SCH is still new in Malaysia. Likewise, SCH is one of the fastest growing hotel

concepts penetrating the Middle Eastern hospitality industry and starts spreading into

the Muslim countries globally (Nur’ Hidayah et. al, 2012).

Figure 1.0 Top Muslim Tourist Destination Countries (2010) (Source: UNWTO)

The tourists come with different purposes of travelling (Zulkifli et.al., 2009).

According to Zulkifli et.al. (2009) finding, the results show that the purpose of Middle

eastern tourist come to Malaysia are for holiday 83.8%(109), business 8.5%(11),

visiting friends and relatives 2.3%(3) and others 5.4%(7). The tourists come for

leisure and some for business. These types of tourists have their own needs and

requirement when setting a place to stay. Despite this, the room contributes most in

fulfilling their needs regardless the purpose of travel. Thus, it is more convenient for

them if the spatial layout of room can assist their stay and in the same time facilitates

the religious duties.

Generally, Halal Hotel is considered as hotel’s serving Halal food. This

assumption does, not whole concept of Shariah Compliant Design (SCD). SCD can be

identified in terms of privacy, orientation, cleanliness, safety, segregation, wastages,

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room interior decoration and several more on the design of room and how this

characteristic to be applied in the scope of research. For example, according to Paul

(2009), in order for a room in a hotel to be fully shariah compliant, it is extremely

important that the room must provided separation for male and female (Segregation

element). This is especially significant at the development stage when designing floor

plans of the hotel or resort. Apart of that, beds and toilets should not be placed in the

direction of Mecca (Orientation element).

“… And when you ask them from behind a screen that is purer for your hearts and for

their hearts.” (Quran 33:53)

From the above verse, it is understood that a screen or veil should be placed

there in between the men and prophet’s wives while conversing with them. This is

how the segregation happened during that time. Therefore, segregation for male and

female may be achieved by having transitional zone or dedicated space to ease their

movement and living. Another Hadith that attests to this segregation is;

“… “It is not permissible for a man to be alone with a woman, and no lady should

travel except with a Muhram.”…” Sahih Bukhari 4:52:250

Therefore, the element of segregation from the Quran and Hadith can be

interpreted through architectural design on hotel’s room. Hence, it will clearly express

the idea of Shariah Compliant Design on spatial layout of room.

1.4 RESEARCH AIM

The aim for this research is to identify and recommend Islamic design on spatial

layout of room in selected case studies of hotels room.

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1.5 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

To achieve the aim mentions above, the following objectives have been taking into

consideration:

i. The Shariah Compliant Design (SCD) characteristic on hotel room.

a) To determine type of hotel rooms.

b) To identify the characteristic of Shariah Compliant Design (SCD) from

Shariah Compliant Hotel (SCH) requirement.

ii. Shariah Compliant Design(SCD) approach on hotel room design;

a) To test Shariah Compliant Design (SCD) strategies used in hotel room.

b) To recommend a suitable spatial layout for a hotel room that compliment

Islamic approach.

1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION

Generally, the research will try to answer the following question:

i. The Shariah Compliant Design (SCD) characteristic on hotel room.

a) What is suitable room type for SCD studies?

b) What are the characteristic of Shariah Compliant Design can be approached

for hotel room design?

ii. SCD approach on hotel room design;

a) What is the Shariah Complaint Design criteria adopted within the hotel

room?

b) What are the recommended Islamic designs of for a hotel room?

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1.7 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The research methodologies applied consists of several approaches;

i. Theoretical research (Literature Review)

The information that supports the research background is conducted from

books, journals, articles and internets. The topic of supporting information will

focus mostly on compatibility to the hotel room design to Shariah Compliant

Design. From the data collection, the author will analyze accordingly and thus

to determine parameters of SCD for a hotel room.

Method involved is analytical review.

ii. Case Study

The analysis from literature review will be as a guideline for observation

studies at two hotels that are declared as SCH to define the parameters of SCD

for a hotel room. Then, the data collected from the two case studies (Shariah

Compliant Hotel type) on both hotels will define the criteria for the survey

checklist. The survey checklist will be tested on Conventional hotel (CH) type

to check on the compliant to Sunnah foundations. Methods involved are

observation with analysis and survey checklist.

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1.8 SCOPES AND LIMITATION

The research will study on criterion of Shariah Compliant Design that can be used at

hotel guest rooms. Apart of that, the parameters of Shariah Compliant Design for hotel

guest room will be tested at both type of hotel (Shariah Compliant Hotel and

Conventional Hotel) to find out which strategies are used. However, not all type of

room in the hotel will be studied. Only room that accommodates at least for 2 people

will choose for study.

1.9 SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH

Currently, the numbers of Muslim tourist influx into the country is increasing by the

years. Staying in a hotel is a so called home for them because they travel far away

from their home. However, not many hotels can accommodate their stay with the

minimum requirement as a Muslim needs (space for prayer). Therefore, to have a

room design comply with the shariah law is important to determine the stay in the

hotel and help them to perform their duties. Thus, it is important for the hotelier to

provide the rooms that are Shariah Compliant. Then, it will gain more interest from

Muslim tourist to stay in the hotel and bring more benefit to the hotel.

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1.10 RESEARCH STRUCTURE

Hotel Guest Room design: Compatibility to Shariah Complaint

Background

Issue:
Increasing number of Muslim tourist and demand for SCH
Problems:
Compatibility of Room Designs to SCD

Aim: to evaluate and recommend Shariah Complaint room design in Hotel

Objectives:
i. The Shariah Compliant Design (SCD) characteristic on hotel room.
a) To determine type of hotel rooms.
b) To identify the characteristic of Shariah Compliant Design (SCD) from
Shariah Compliant Hotel (SCH) requirement

ii. Shariah Compliant Design(SCD) approach on hotel room design;

Data Collection/Technique

 Room Layout
Analytical Review: Observation Survey Checklist

 Concept of Shariah
Case Studies on selected Selected case studies on
SCH Conventional Hotel
Compliant Hotel and (2 Hotels) room
concept of Shariah (2 Hotels)

 Characteristic of SCD for

 Parameters Of Shariah
a hotel room

Compliant Through
Architectural
Interpretation (Room
Design)

Analysis

Finding 1 Finding 2
 Parameters of Shariah Compliant  SCD parameters approach on
Design on hotel room design hotel room design

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Conclusion

Recommendations

Figure 1.1: Research Structure

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