What I'd miss and what I wouldn't

Design trends of past years brought us many great interpretations of guest room design. In general, the designs try to create a more spacious and generous feeling, even in smaller rooms. The furniture and installations are more practical for the guests to use. However, there are several items I would like to disappear and others that I am still missing.

Open bathrooms

It is a great idea to get daylight into bathrooms and to create a feeling that the room is bigger than it actually is. In my opinion, some designers have taken this too far. No privacy in the toilet or shower is, for me, a no go!

Room lighting

Light design of most hotel rooms is created to give a cozy atmosphere. This is perfect before you go to sleep or when you want to spend some time in your room relaxing. By creating this atmosphere, people seem to forget that you need light when you first come to your room. I find it extremely annoying not to be able to see what is in my suitcase or trolley just because it is too dark. Sometimes there are additional lamps, which you can turn on - if you find the switch! Sometimes there are simply no more lights.

At the desk – if there is still a desk! – Good lighting is also a must.

After all, lighting schemes and switches have to be simple and easy to find. Looking for switches, having to find out by trial and error which switch operates which light is frustrating.However, it annoys me the most if the master switch at the bed does not turn off all lights and I have to get out of bed again to turn off a standing lamp, foyer light or whatever.

Luggage rack

I addressed this in one of my earlier articles. There are only a few hotel rooms where it has been thought through in-depth on where to put your luggage and to protect the walls at the same time. The consequence is that the guests put their luggage on desks, lounges, tables and beds and damage surfaces and furniture by doing this. Carefully thought through solutions save a lot of money for maintenance and will also satisfy guests.

Sockets

Other items, which I miss most even in branded hotels, are sockets at both sides of the bed to recharge your smartphone. If you use the smartphone as your alarm clock, to have to put it on the desk on the other side of the room for recharging overnight is not an option. These sockets also should not be connected to the key card switch, to allow recharging when you are not in the room.

Desks

A recent trend has desks disappearing from guest rooms. I am a strong supporter to still have a desk. I think we will need always a space to put our valets, printouts, etc. And I think there are still a lot of people who want to or who have to work in their rooms and do not want to do this in bed.

These are a few highlights from my point of view. What do you miss or would like to not see anymore?

DI HERBERT MASCHA, MRICS, Partner - MRP Hotels

Herbert Mascha is an experienced civil engineer, working on international hotel projects as a project manager and consultant.

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