Hotels are going for a new minimalist look to
attract younger guests, but the move has left some experienced travelers angry,
wondering how they're expected to get work done without a desk.
Younger travelers, hotels note, just want a clean and efficient space to stay.
They spend less time in rooms and like to socialize and work in vibrant lobbies
with a sense of community.So carpets are being replaced by easy-to-clean laminate floors. Tubs are being ripped out in favor of glass showers. And instead of working at a desk, guests are increasingly expected to use window sills or oversized TV trays.
If a guest doesn’t like those "flexible workspaces', hotels hope they will bring their laptops to the lobby, where they might buy a glass of wine while typing away.
But for seasoned travelers who enjoy working in the quiet of their rooms this has caused major headaches. Often, these surfaces aren't "bigger than a sheet of paper,'' Don Wright, 59, a computer consultant from Lexington, Kentucky says.
Wright spends up to 200 nights a year in hotels and understands that many make changes to cater to younger travelers. Anyway, he can't imagine any millennial deciding not to stay in a hotel because the room has a desk. But for older road warriors, a lack of a desk is a deal breaker.
"When you are 25 all is well and you can roll up in a ball and sit anywhere,'' Wright says. "But when you turn 45, 50 or older, your body doesn't like those types of positions.''
Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson says guests no longer want a full dresser, closet and desk. Removing some items gives rooms a greater sense of space. Add a big TV, fast Wi-Fi and they are happy.
Marriott isn't alone. Several chains have been pushing new designs that upend the traditional room.
At Best Western's new Vib brand, bed headboards double as desks. Closets have been replaced with hooks on the wall and instead of a dresser there are drawers under the bed. Hilton's new Tru won't have closets. Instead there will be an open space with hangers and hooks on the wall. And the desk is replaced with a chair that includes a spot for a tiny laptop or tablet.
Article edited from Associated Press
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