Meeting Needs through Design

As travel demand evolves, so too does the hospitality industry. Price-conscious guests today seek not only affordability but also independence and eco-conscious choices. Enter Hi Inn Self-Service, a new model that pushes beyond the boundaries of the traditional economy hotel by Vermilion Zhou Design Group, reshaping everything from spatial design to operational strategy.

A fully self-service functional zone is precisely configured within an ultra-compact hotel lobby area.
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Self-service Delivery Locker_Deliveries can only be collected internally.
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Self-service Dining Area
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

A Brand in Transition

Hi Inn’s latest iteration moves from its founding ethos of “Light, Combination, Simple” toward a more forward-looking identity: Fully Self-Service, Eco-Friendly, and Reliably Affordable. The result is a hospitality solution that delivers what today’s travelers value most—flexibility, cost efficiency, and safety—without compromising on comfort.

Self-service Dining Area
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Elevator
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

guest room
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Self-Service as Design Logic

At Hi Inn, self-service is more than just a convenience; it forms the backbone of the hotel’s spatial and aesthetic language. With carefully considered color palettes, material choices, and lighting, the design cultivates a minimalist yet inviting environment where guests navigate their stay independently, without staff intervention. The compact public areas, from check-in to dining, are designed to support this streamlined approach.

The nightstand doubles as a seat.
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Room corridor
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Self-service Check-in Lobby
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Modular Thinking for Modern Needs

The hotel’s spaces are broken down into functional “units” such as wardrobe walls, wash walls, dining corners, and laundry zones. These prefabricated, modular elements not only accelerate construction but also simplify maintenance and future upgrades. Guestrooms, for instance, are assembled from adaptable modules that integrate lighting and utility systems for efficiency and consistency.

Self-service Check-in Lobby
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Self-service Delivery Locker
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Even with self check-in, privacy and security are ensured—only after check-in can guests access the lobby with their card.
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Sustainability in Action

Hi Inn’s construction strategy underscores its commitment to sustainability. More than 80 percent of the materials—steel panels, frames, and standardized hardware—are recyclable, ensuring not just efficient builds but also the potential for dismantling and reuse. Sustainability here is not a branding slogan but a structural principle built into every layer of the project.

Unitized Spatial System: Modular, Precise, Adaptable
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Self-service Baggage Drop Zone
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

Self-service Laundry Area
Photo credit: Jian Quan Wu

A Blueprint for Tomorrow’s Economy Hotels

Hi Inn Self-Service is positioned as a next-generation economy hotel that reconciles affordability with innovation. Its design-driven system reimagines how budget hospitality can look and feel—efficient, reliable, eco-conscious, and deeply attuned to the needs of a new generation of travelers.

Vermilion Zhou Design Group

Established in Shanghai in 2002, Vermilion Zhou Design Group has completed over a thousand interior design projects, encompassing various types such as public, commercial, office, hotel, restaurant, and residential spaces. Vermilion Zhou Design Group constantly strives to explore new possibilities, and they have created dozens of hotel brands within branded hotels, providing accommodation experiences for more than 100 million people.