Trends in Guest Room Design

Abstract

It is difficult to define a "typical hotel guest room." Most major properties today utilize sev eral types of guest unit design within a single property. The breakdown of this "mix" of guest room designs is an area where further study is warranted. Limited work has already been started to better define and design these areas by Cornell University and several independent hotel interests.

Many sources were investigated to obtain the basic information for this study. To ascertain current practices for new structures, a question naire was sent to 68 hotel executives who are dealing with new properties. In addition, rela tive material was reviewed in trade periodicals, books, and the actual floor plans of new struc tures, those recently built, under construction, or in the planning stage. Most of these findings are summarized in the tables appearing with this article.

Appreciation is expressed to ITT-Sheraton for permission to present in this article parts of the study they originally sponsored at Cornell Uni versity. Initially, this study was undertaken by direction of Fred B. Mills, formerly president of ITT-Sheraton Design and development Cor poration and now affiliated with Alexander & Baldwin in Honolulu, Hawaii. Nat Martin, who succeeded Mr. Mills at ITT-Sheraton, continued this work and has graciously allowed us to use much of the study findings. — Paul R. Broten, Dir ector of Research and Development.