‘Lack of home comforts’ (27%) and ‘loneliness’ (25%) are the worst aspects of staying in a hotel, according to research published – the poll also showed around one-third of people staying in a…
‘Lack of home comforts’ (27%) and ‘loneliness’ (25%) are the worst aspects of staying in a hotel, according to research published – the poll also showed around one-third of people staying in a hotel for business purposes have had to do work (38%) or eat a meal (31%) from their hotel bed.
The study was commissioned by boutique Leeds apartment residence The Chambers – the company, whose ethos is to provide ‘more than just a bed’, said that an Alan Partridge-esque syndrome does start to creep into long-staying hotel guests where space, company and creature comforts are limited.
Yorkshire entrepreneur and creator of The Chambers, Christine Boothroyd, said: “If you’re away on business for extended periods, cooped up in a small hotel room most evenings, loneliness and boredom do become issues. Room facilities can be lacking and, given a choice, I think the vast majority of travellers and business guests would prefer not to have to write reports, work on laptops or eat meals from their hotel bed. Once in a while it’s okay, but for those who stay in hotels regularly the novelty soon wears off, and some business people can feel confined to their hotel room, bored and lonely, a bit like Alan Partridge.”
Steve Coogan’s Alan Partridge character of the eponymous BBC TV series spent 182 days in the fictional Linton Travel Tavern, famously once dismantling the room’s Corby trouser press through sheer boredom.
The Chambers’ survey revealed the worst aspects of staying in a hotel were: ‘lack of home comforts’ (27%), ‘loneliness’ (25%), ‘impersonal atmosphere’ (12%) and ‘room temperature’ (inability to self-adjust heating/cooling) (10%).
Christine added: “Loneliness aside, in-room facilities, or the lack of them, can also be an issue for hotel guests. Reading work documents is fine, but try writing or typing while lying down or propped against a pillow and it’s a pain – trust me, I’ve done it. Serviced apartments like ours give travellers much more space compared to a hotel, plus they offer a few more home comforts. Kitchens and dining tables allow guests to prepare then eat their own meals, while the table doubles as a desk to work from. Business travellers spending long periods in hotels do miss friends and family, especially those with young children – our spacious apartments have two bedrooms so guests can stay over at no extra charge.”
Of those staying for business purposes, 31% have had to eat a meal on their hotel bed, while 38% have had to do work from their hotel bed. The Chambers’ research was undertaken online by polling specialist YouGov plc; results are weighted to be representative of the GB adult population; 1,595 working people were surveyed.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
