As the old saying goes, change is the only constant in any industry. Travel is one industry where change affects every guest. The hotel portion of the industry regularly upgrades services and facilities in hopes of bringing more guests and higher rates into play. While many changes in the hotel industry are wins for consumers, others are not a clear cut victory. Plus, some changes have a more dramatic effect on certain traveler segments, such as business versus leisure.
While hotels seem to have taken a page out of the airline industry playbook when it comes to fees, hotel fees existed long before airlines started charging for checking a bag or picking a seat. However, hotels have gotten more aggressive with fees, which is projected to result in a record $1.8 billion this year. Housekeeping surcharges, baggage storage fees, and cancellation fees have all contributed to what will likely be a record year for hotel fees.
While fees affect vacationers and business travelers, other changes are aimed at a particular subset of travelers. Hotel lobbies are becoming a place for guests to interact with each other. The reemergence of the lobby as place guests will actually want to visit is welcome to anyone who has spent a day or two on the road. Plus, the changes have even made their way to the bathroom of guest rooms, where tubs are being replaced with showers.
Another change that guests are bound to notice centers around toiletries. Guests who are accustomed to taking miniature bottles of shampoo are starting to find larger normal sized bottles of products in their guest rooms. The larger bottles are refillable, which means less plastic making its way into landfills, but of course many hotels offer up the larger bottles of products for sale. Since many upscale hotel offer up designer brands, the bottles can retail at the hotel for as much as $20. Anyone taking them home can expect the charge to pop up on the credit card receipt.
While some changes are good for the environment and some offer new experiences, the hotel industry is being aggressive in making improvements and generating additional revenue. Price conscious guests have to be on their toes to avoid any fees that might go along with those changes.
Jason Gallagher is a former travel professional with a decade of experience in the industry. He remains an avid traveler and hotel fan with exposure to technology and trends in properties across the United States.
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