Guests have a lot of demands these days and hotels are changing their tactics to meet those demands, Nancy Trejos notes in the following article that was recently published by USA TODAY and presents some areas where hotels have made strides in keeping up with the preferences of their customers.
Plugs and ports
Many older hotel rooms have outlets hidden behind nightstands and desks. But hoteliers are considering the “plug-ability” of new properties when designing them and retrofitting older ones.
Unwanted noise
From double-insulated walls to thicker headboards to quieter air-conditioning units, there are several steps hotels can take to provide a better sleep environment.
According to a National Sleep Foundation study, 74% of 1,004 travelers said a quiet room was key to getting a good night’s rest.
Climate control
Thermostats may be a very small part of a hotel room, but a lot of big thinking is going into them.
Frequent travelers panel complain about room temperature and difficult-to-control thermostats. Other pet peeves: noisy air conditioning, motion sensors that turn down the temperature in the middle of the night, inconsistent temperatures, or energy-inefficient thermostats.
Goodbye closets, hello storage solutions
Closet doors and dressers are disappearing, nooks are becoming more fashionable and the bed is serving a dual purpose with space underneath for bags.
Mattress makeovers: Hotels don’t skimp on sleep
When it comes to hotel room mattresses, designers are considering much more than how soft or firm they are.
These days, they are examining products with pocketed coils, cooling gel foam, memory foam, and moisture-wick fabrics that protect the mattress. They are deciding on height, shape and size. They are testing out a variety of toppers, covers and protectors.
Pillow talk
To come up with new pillows for its Comfort brand, a team at Choice Hotels headquarters tested about 100 soft and firm ones.
According to Sleep.org by the National Sleep Foundation, having the wrong pillow can lead to neck pain, headaches and even arm numbness.
Upgraded bathrooms for more demanding guests
Bathrooms have become as important to travelers as bedrooms.
Marriott upgraded its bathrooms for its signature brand — Marriott Hotels. The new design has an open shower with floor-to-ceiling glass to make it feel larger.
Hoteliers say guests want larger bathrooms. They also want showers vs. bathtubs, so they can have more space for a vanity. Lighting has become more important. They want perks such as soothing music.
Read full article here.
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Source: usatoday.com
