Determination of Customer Requirements for Thermal Accommodation Facility Designs

Abstract

In order to provide quality in service in thermal accommodation facilities, the design of the facilities must be properly made. For this reason, the inclusion of customers' expectations and satisfaction in existing facilities into the design of new facilities will increase the quality of building and service. The sustainable development of tourism will be ensured through the transfer of knowledge and experiences of different disciplines connected with tourism. With this consciousness, this architecturebased research was supported by a field study. Surveys were conducted with a focus group on the facilities located in the Ihlara region, which is considered to be the gate of Cappadocia. Some of the questions asked in the questionnaire studies were adapted from previous studies. With the field study, the thermal plant design parameters have been tried to be determined in line with the demands and expectations of the customers. When the findings of the survey are examined, it is seen that the customers coming to the thermal accommodation facilities mostly come to health and stay in the facilities for a long time. For this reason, customers prefer thermal accommodation facility designs to be compatible with nature. Accommodation facilities with densely populated residential areas in the immediate vicinity are not preferred. In addition, it is observed that customers prefer social facilities such as natural nutrition, sports activities, social activities and shopping in the facility. After the health criterion, the “service” criterion was the most important item. Conspicuous expectations, such as “environmental awareness”, “use of natural resources”, “consideration of natural environment data”, “preparation of action plans”, have shown the sensitivity of energy conservation and productivity of thermal accommodation facility users. "Physical appearance”, “originality” and “harmony with the natural environment” have also become important topics. Extensive evaluations of findings are described in detail in the third chapter. While the main areas that play a big role in the country's economies are opening to tourism, determining the conditions of the region and the physical, psychological and sociological expectations of the customers and taking the correct steps will be an important step in sustainable development.