Who Knew De-risking Something Could Be So Much Fun?

Innovation doesn't always have to mean an earth shattering patented technology. Sometimes, simply transferring a method from one industry to another can be quite powerful.

In many industries like digital applications, pharmaceuticals, and automative, a key step in the research and development phase includes building out the product or solution with the bare minimum functionality and a select set of features.

By releasing this scaled down version of the concept into the market before making a full investment, the business can get a sense of customer traction and understand better what it will take to make an innovative or transformative product desirable, feasible and sustainable.

In our hotel development project we are transferring this risk minimizing practice and have built out a minimum viable product to inform the future build out of a full scale hotel. In our context that includes five fully functioning and serviceable rooms.

These rooms are generally available for anyone to book direct on our website - www.refugeoncentral.com. We have focused on introducing brand story, unique interior design, modern, tech-enabled operational workflows, food & beverage concepts, and novel room configuration.

This is our initial set of features to create a differentiated experience. All under 275 square feet per room.

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As a family business, we have been straddling generational and ideological divides. Our challenge now is to better understand the broader impact of our choices, and rethink how we do our work. This will be a lifelong journey in examining our past choices and undoing what has been problematically at odds with the way we want to coexist with the world around us.

Photo Credit: Dylan Chandler