Unhappy With Design/Layout Of Your Hotel Room? Journalist Seeking Folks To Discuss

Have you stayed in a hotel recently that didn't have some of the old standard items, like desks, dressers, bathtub, closets? Start a conversation with me here on IF and I'll put you in touch with a journalist looking to interview folks for an upcoming story.

 

What I've noticed most recently is a huge trend to not even have pens/paper in rooms...which seems really ridiculous.

 

I hate not having a pen and paper in the room. Such a basic thing.

 

I don't remember the last time I used a pen/paper in a hotel room.

Marriott recently starting to innovate this, rolling out as we speak. Still have pens though

http://travel-brilliantly.marriott....-future?nck=90655160&ck=1203818&lk=1000158723

 

I end up using them a lot (or had until they'd started disappearing) - often on arrival to jot down a to do list.

Comfortable Bed, desk with acceptable ergonomics, reliable WiFi, pen, paper, drinkable coffee, shower, hangers (and a reasonable number) that can be hung in the bathroom, power at the desk and bedside tables, blackout curtains, quiet climate control...not that complicated of a list. You can innovate and streamline while maintaining these fundamentals (eg aloft does incredibly well by these criteria with a pretty stripped down product). You don't need to do something ridiculous like pull desks out of business hotels.

 

Stayed at at Marriott just yesterday. It had both pen and paper, and I used both.

 

Tic tac toe?

 

No, jotting down a phone number given to me on the phone.

 

My biggest gripe is non-functioning, poorly placed, or missing power outlets. I don't want to ace to crawl under the desk, unplug lamps or the TV or carry my own power strip to be able to charge a couple of phones and iPads (two travelers).

 

The worst is sewing this at new or renovated properties. The solution is easy - tables/desks/lamps/etc with power ports - and is doable even if the original construction is weak in this regard.

 

Yup. Something I do frequently. When there's actually a pen.

 

My primary gripe is the failure to have ceiling lights. I find that such lights are rare, and the table lamps really don't illuminate the room well, particularly when packing late at night or early in the morning. I need good light to make sure I'm not forgetting something.