I don't think the current state of hotels is optimal.  I always feel like I'm wasting money and resources by being the only person in my room.  I'm definitely not sharing a room with my co-workers, but I feel like hotels could change things around a bit to get with the times.  I always feel like I'm overcharged for my stay and accommodated with unnecessary things.  I don't need a couch in my room, nor do I need 85 channels of cable TV or furniture made of exotic woods.  Without further adieu, here are my suggestions: 
  1. Adopt a modular pricing system.  Have options to select when reserving a room, such as with or without cable, internet, phone; number of beds; number of closets and amount of storage space.  Have prices to reflect these options.  When I'm traveling by myself, I definitely don't need more than one bed, nor do I need a kitchen or a living room.
  2. Adopt a variable pricing system.  Reward people for conserving water, electricity, heat/AC, etc.  This will not only reduce the average room bill, it'll encourage people to be nicer to the environment.  With the current system, I pay the same price whether I turn on all the lights, run the air conditioning full blast, and take 12 showers.  This is stupid.
  3. Have budget rooms.  This is sort of a combination of (1) and (2).  Like I said, I don't need cable TV and oak furniture.  All I want is a bed and a bathroom.  And I'd like to be able to pay 1/3 the price of a normal room if I can get just the bare necessities.  If I wanted luxury, I wouldn't be staying at a low-to-mid-priced hotel.
  4. Do what your environmentally conscious signs say you do:  Don't wash my towels if I hang them up.  I don't understand why hotels put up a facade and then waste water and energy when you're not looking.  I'm ok with a once-used towel (as long as it wasn't used by someone else).
#travel