Given the strong appeal of cheap traveloptions, such as cheapairplane tickets, cheapfares, cheapdeals, discount hotel rooms, discounttravel deals, cheap auto rentals, and cheap vacation packages, manyhotel chains are increasingly making their room sizes smaller (even tiny) toappeal to cost conscious visitors.
Today the average size of a hotel room in America is around330 square feet. Recently introducedmodern style rooms are much smaller:
These rooms are priced to appeal to younger guests lookingto stay in three star rooms and who are willing to accept less space in orderto save money.
While these cheaper rooms lack in size, that they do notlack in overall appeal due to innovative designs and technology focusedamenities. Though smaller rooms arecommon in Europe and other international markets, they have only recently beenintroduced in the U.S.
Marriott came out with these rooms with the aim to givetheir guests everything that they want and nothing that they do not need.
Moxy Hotels, a subsidiary of Marriott, is a three star tierboutique style hotel chain known for offering smaller hotel rooms. Today it has a single location in Milan,Italy, but has 41 additional hotels in development. Fourteen are planned for eight U.S. citiesand are expected to open by the end of 2017.
Guests at a Moxy Hotel can check in online at the hotel barwhere a bartender can serve them a drink or help with any questions. Instead of offering room service this hotelcomes with 24/7 grab and go technology enabled vending machines. Instead of offering an endless number of TVchannels, guests can screencast their Netflix using the hotels Wi-Fi. Basic network channels are still madeavailable.
Moxy Hotels focus on what they perceive the next-gentraveler really wants: namely active public space. Its large lobby spaces are styled in a raw,industrial chic feel with concrete floors and purposefully exposed wires. Guests are encouraged to work in communalareas, meet locals to be given tips about the city, and interact with fellowguests.
Moxy believes that millennials are looking for somethingvery different from baby boomers who prioritized a comfortable bed and a hotelshower. Millennials and lifestyletravelers are more about the experience.
One of the reasons that new hotel rooms are getting smalleris because they no longer need to be big. Bulky TVs have been replaced by flat screens. Custom made beds between the size of a twinand a full have been introduced in response to the increase of single guests.
Millennials do not spend as much time in their rooms asboomers did.
Ultimately the entire hospitality industry is heading downthe path of smaller rooms because of cost cutting measures. Every square foot taken out of a room makesit less expensive to build, maintain, and heat/air condition.
Millennial travelers are looking for technology connectedhotels that provide more opportunities to socialize. Coffee shops are increasingly common incommunal work spaces.
Millennials tends to be more interested in partaking insocial experiences where they can interact with other travelers and also meet locals.
To address the downside of smaller rooms, Best Westerns urbanVib hotel rooms focus on letting light in. The typical wall that separates a bathroom from the bedroom has beenreplaced by a glazed glass partition. Luggage can be stored under the bed or in a space next to thebathroom. Large windows bring in naturallight and beds face the city to make rooms feel less claustrophobic.
Best Western recently started construction on its first Vibhotel in Chicago and has 15 more of these modern style hotels planned.
Secondary market and college town based GLo rooms (anotherBest Western small hotel room initiative) are slightly larger, starting at 249feet.
Vibs Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami rates are expected torange from $120 to $200 a night, with GLo rooms averaging in the mid $90s.
Both hotel concepts will come with large spaces forsocializing. One potential GLo hotel hasplans for a microbrewery. Best Westernhopes that these hotels will appeal to young travelers who will Instagram andtweet about their stays, providing the brand with an organic social mediamarketing boost.
Yotel is another similar hotel chain that started outproviding sleeping pods in airports. Yotels offer spacious areas with long tables for people to create theirown workstations and share meals. Plentiful power sockets are available as well as comfortable chairs tolounge in.
Soundproof phone booths will be available in eight newhotels now under development so that guests can make private calls on theirsmartphones without having to return to their rooms.
Yotels New York City rooms start at 170 square feet, withsome rooms including bunk beds for multiple guests. Priced at about $200 per night the chain believesits guests want a good shower, an excellent bed, free Wi-Fi, and interestingshows to watch on TV. Their hotels arelocated in the heart of the city with prices that are on the low to mid-range.
By fitting in 50 percent more rooms in the same space ascompetitors, Yotel is able to offer its guests a better value.
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