What's Happening?
A growing trend among midprice and boutique hotels is the shift from traditional solid bathroom doors to open-concept designs. This change involves replacing solid doors with frosted glass, sliding barn
doors, curtains, or partial walls, which often fail to block light, sound, or smells effectively. The Wall Street Journal reports that this design choice is driven by cost-saving measures, as traditional doors are seen as expensive and a maintenance burden. Some hotels are even questioning the necessity of bathroom doors altogether, experimenting with open sinks and showers in the main room. This trend has sparked a campaign led by digital marketer Sadie Lowell, who advocates for the return of solid doors, highlighting privacy concerns among guests.
Why It's Important?
The shift towards open-concept bathrooms in hotels reflects broader trends in hospitality design, prioritizing cost efficiency and modern aesthetics over traditional privacy standards. This change has significant implications for guest satisfaction, as privacy is a critical factor in the hotel experience. The backlash from guests, as evidenced by campaigns like Sadie Lowell's, indicates a potential misalignment between hotel design innovations and customer preferences. This could impact hotel ratings, customer loyalty, and ultimately, revenue. Hotels may need to reconsider their design strategies to balance cost savings with guest comfort and privacy.
