Excerpt from AFAR
These properties are addressing the little annoyances that can happen during hotel stays.
Have you ever been the victim of poor hotel room design or wondered why hotels do some of the things they do? According to a recent Qualtrics “Hotel Pain Index” study, room cleanliness and surprise surcharges are among the top concerns for travelers. No matter what your elite status with a loyalty program, even a meticulously clean room design can lead to frustration if the simple things don’t work as planned. How many of these hotel irritations have frazzled one of your trips? Check out the ways some hotels are working to fix them.
1. Housekeeping visits at the wrong time
It never fails. If you have just a few minutes of free time in your room, housekeeping is sure to come knocking (sometimes even ignoring the “Do not disturb” sign). There has to be a better way, say the staff at The Mantra Samui in Ko Samui, Thailand. The hotel has an app for guests to schedule housekeeping, room service, and any needed maintenance visits at the touch of a button. The online menu also helps guests to avoid any potential language barriers.
Swanky wine and spa hotel Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine, near Valladolid, Spain, takes a simpler, but equally effective approach, by letting guests request scheduled housekeeping times via door handle signs the night before.
2. Cramped closets without enough hangers
Moxy Times Square has a handy solution for extra closet space: Look under the bed! Space is at a premium in this historic building, so designers are installing pull-out drawers underneath beds. Wall pegs with wooden hangers are ideal for blazers, jackets, or robes, which can be hung side by side. Designers used the simple room design concept of Japanese ryokans, which also led to a fold-up table and custom leather chair that helps to save even more space when not in use.
Many TownePlace Suites by Marriott properties are giving some extended stay guests closet envy thanks to a partnership with The Container Store, which provides a custom “elfa” closet with shelves, drawers, and hangers perfectly crafted to make efficient use of space in a hotel room.
3. Dangerous middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks
Surely, you have seen some hotel beds with corners sharp enough to slice an apple. Luckily, the Hotel Sanchaya on Bintan Island, Indonesia, wants to protect you with a convenient switch that turns on a subtle under-bed light to guide you to the bathroom without waking you or your partner up or stubbing your toe. Other hotels, like the Delta Hotel Ottawa City Centre, have installed motion-activated night-lights in the bathroom to guide you.
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