While most travelers highly value cheap travel options, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, and cheap vacation packages, many are happier regarding certain hotel trends and less enthusiastic about others.
The following are positive hotel innovations identified by Conde Nast Traveler:
The celebrity chef restaurant concept was introduced in 1997 and has become a norm at many hotels with food enthusiasts attracted to such hotels for their prix-fixe menus.
The pillowtop bed was introduced in 1999 and has spawned countless copycats. Westins Heavenly Bed is a mattress topped with down blankets and has resulted in many medium to higher end hotel chains offering similar beds.
Hotel reading rooms were introduced in 2000 and today are a key factor in which hotels bibliophiles select.
The rain shower was introduced in 2001 and harnesses gravity such that large drops of water fall at a soothing, rain like rate.
Turndown gifts were introduced in 2004 as a natural evolution to chocolates being left on pillows. Nighttime treats have increasingly become more elaborate at select high end hotels.
Flat screen TVs were introduced in 2006 and have spread to most hotel chains.
Pool amenities started improving in 2007. Hotels started offering such treats as spritzes of Evian water or fresh fruit while guests tan.
Free minibar treats were introduced by some hotels in 2007. Andaz Hotels offer guests their choice of any non alcoholic drink and a selection of small bites for free.
Paperless check in started in 2010. Now guests can self check in at kiosks vs. standing in lines in lobbies.
Wireless concierges came about in 2010. Select hotels started offering concierge service accessible via text messages.
The worst hotel trends according to Conde Nast Traveler are:
Pillow menus debuted in 1997 and are viewed as many as a valueless gimmick.
Club lighting was introduced in 1998 and thanks to dim, multicolored lights some hotels feel like discotheques.
The hotel channel came out in 2000 and TVs revert to that channel every time they are turned on.
The bath butler was introduced in 2000 with some guests finding it creepy as well as depressingly regressive to have someone turn on the bath faucet for them.
The canine concierge was introduced in 2006 and takes pet care and outwear to extremes.
Hotels started charging mandatory resort fees in 2006. Suddenly hotels were sneaking in a variety of hidden mandatory fees for things like pools, tennis courts and gyms, even when not used.
All in one room controllers came out in 2006 that control everything from the lights to TV and the room temperature. Unfortunately such gadgets are often too confusing and time consuming.
Wall-less bathrooms came out in 2007. Many view such bathrooms as a little too voyeuristic.
Motion sensor mini-bars were introduced in 2008 and charge guests automatically if they simply move a sodas location in a minibar.
Half wall showers came out in 2009 and look great but are impractical when it comes to keeping water off the floor.
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