The overriding theme of the March-April issue of INFLOLINK | BPN is Hotels & Hospitality, which is just as well, considering we are still very much in the festive season.

This sector, most will admit is probably more design-conscious than just about any sector out there. There are several reasons for this of course, not least of which is the fact that it is part and parcel of the 'experience economy', meaning that look and ambience literally are everything.

But it's not just about aesthetics we are talking about - there are hard cash figures behind the hotel and hospitality sector.

According to Federal Trade, Tourism and Investment minister Steven Ciobo, the recent wave of record spending by both Australian and international visitors is creating and supporting jobs across the country.

"Tourism employs about one in 12 Australians, so this growth in spending and visitor nights means more jobs, more economic growth and more prosperity for all Australians," he says.

In July of 2016 - in other words, in the middle of Australia's winter-a report by property analysts Colliers International suggested that the country's hotel scene would likely see a construction boom lasting for at least another two years as tourism spending, predicted to reach $167 billion by 2025, plays an ever-larger role in Australia's economy.

The country's hotel market, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, is experiencing an "unprecedented alignment of positive fundamental indicators," according to Gus Moors, head of hotels for Colliers International. 

As for the hotel sector, most analysts concur that the continuing trend of high occupancy rates, a benign supply outlook and increased capacity from key markets like China and India mean that hotels are likely to keep proving profitable. 

All this means that the money and inclination are there to keep rebuilding and renovating our thousands of pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants.

The fact is also that the competition for design and style is heating up, something we have seen in not only the projects that we have featured in this edition, but also in a range of other well-known builds from the noveau corporate elegance of Barangaroo to Erskineville's Pricilla Queen of the Desert fame Imperial Hotel.

Gone are the days of monotone tiles and stainless steel sterility, and in their place is warmth, depth and a love of all that is meant to be celebrated.

For architects and designers, this means a boon in work in what perhaps was a hitherto overlooked sector.

And for the hospitality-loving public, it's a feast for the eyes and eyes - something that has been missing up until now.