Not all hotels and resorts may be luxurious, but each of them should provide a high-quality experience. People usually book a resort or hotel stay because they seek an experience more luxurious than their homes can offer. Even if they’re on a budget, they still expect comfortable rooms and reliable staff.
If you look up hotel horror stories online, many of them have something to do with bad design. Bathroom fixtures weren’t working, beds were plagued with bedbugs, and security features weren’t installed. Clearly, even if the internet can give us a lot of information about accommodation, we can still encounter surprises. Don’t make those surprises turn into another hotel horror story by avoiding these design mistakes:
1. Using Overly Opulent Furnishings
Hotel design has moved on from flashy visuals. It’s now more focused on efficiency and functionality. While aesthetics remain important, it shouldn’t be the only highlight. Hotel and resort guests are more interested in whether a hotel is secure, safe, and comfortable.
Instead of using overly opulent furnishings, provide a complete sensory experience. Incorporate sounds, textures, and smells into the design. That would create a full experience for guests. For example, relaxing music will immediately calm them down and make them think of a retreat. Touchable textures, like textiles and throws, will entice them to snuggle down. And aromatic diffusers can make them think of a spa.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should settle for low-quality and unappealing furnishings. There should just be a balance between aesthetics and sensory stimulation. Sticking to a design theme is still important, as it will enhance whatever your guests feel from the textures, sounds, and smells you provide.
2. Using Traditional Patterns
Old hotels may get away with traditional patterns, but new, modern ones wouldn’t. Even if you’re a luxurious establishment, it’s not a reason to stick to traditional design elements. Hotel and resort guests seek contemporary yet timeless designs.
Though you can choose traditional as a design style, it shouldn’t necessarily involve old-fashioned brocade, chintz, or damask patterns. Instead, use color play. Choose a neutral color palette, then incorporate bolder colors as accents. Ditch the patterns unless they’re streamlined ones like geometric lines or large-scale patterns.
3. Using Energy-inefficient Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical Systems
In the age of sustainability, using energy-inefficient fixtures and electronics will paint you as the bad guy. Moreover, it’ll increase your utility bills, preventing you from using your resources on important upgrades.
If you’re still not using LED lights, low-flow showers, dual-flush toilets, and EnergyStar systems, you’re lagging behind your competitors already. Your hotel bathrooms and/or guestrooms are long overdue for renovation. Contact commercial contractors such as Bromley & Croydon’s Renovation Experts as soon as you can. They can help you improve your hotel rooms within your establishment’s budget.
4. Sticking to Standard Room Configurations
The typical hotel guestroom has at least one bed, a television, and a desk. Premium rooms may include an accent chair, while suites have a living room. At first glance, you wouldn’t notice a problem with such a configuration. But if you stay in that kind of guestroom, chances are you’d find many issues.
As the things we can do indoors increase, hotel and resort guests would demand more custom guestrooms. As such, even basic rooms may need a work area, while premium rooms may require a dining space for accommodating their friends. People no longer see their hotel rooms as nothing more than a place to sleep. They want it to be their home away from home.
5. Not Providing Adequate Storage Space in Bathrooms
The bathroom is probably the most important part of a guestroom. Sadly, it’s also the place many traveler accommodations get wrong. They don’t bother checking the fixtures for leaks, pests, or any other issue. As a result, some guests have experienced a flood in their bathrooms.
That would instantly earn you a one-star rating and a viral social media post. But plumbing issues aren’t the only problem you should address. Pay attention to storage too. If your guests can’t find a surface to put their toiletries or towels on, you’re also bound to receive negative reviews and low ratings. Your housekeeping staff would also struggle to de-clutter the space.
Don’t wait for bad feedback before improving your hotel’s or resort’s design. People are thrilled to be able to travel again after a year of being homebound, so don’t ruin their excitement by providing poorly designed guestrooms. Budget for a renovation if you’re long overdue for it. And loosen your attachment to traditional or outdated design if it’s costing your establishment happy guests.