Micro hotels are the new trend offering tiny rooms and big public spaces
IS THIS a sign of what’s to come?
Independent brands and major hotel chains are bringing “micro hotels” into their portfolio, which offer tiny rooms but big public spaces to lure social travellers, Millennials and those on a budget.
As small as 4.6 square metres in size, these tiny rooms were first introduced in cities such as New York and Tokyo where cramming more rooms on a property helped combat the issues of expensive real estate.
Today, however, micro hotels are being built to service a new group of travellers — the Millenials — who are travelling and spending more but still looking for value for money and smart design.
“It is a slightly literal example of the ‘living like a local’ trend — where an apartment is often just a place to sleep, and the public spaces are where one spends the majority of their time,” says Gray Shealy, executive director of the Master’s of Hospitality Management Program at Georgetown University, reports USA Today.
The Marriott hotel group opened Moxy hotels to service Millennials offereing affordable yet tech-savvy accommodation.
Opening the first Moxy hotel in Milan in 2014, it will introduce 10 Moxy hotels next year in major US cities and 150 properties to the collection over the next 10 years.
The Moxy portfolio offers guests a high-energy lounge, 24/7 self-service grab and go, a library, plug-in zones and free Wi-Fi. Regarded as sitting in between a hostel and a four-star hotel, typical rates are between $100-$140 a night.
“Moxy fully embraces today’s contemporary traveller and welcomes guests with its style, design and attitude,” said Tina Edmundson, global officer, luxury and lifestyle brands. “Moxy clearly resonates with the young and young at heart — it’s fun, edgy, and social, all with a youthful spirit.”
Source: The Daily Telegraph, Originally published as: Micro hotels are the new trend offering tiny rooms and big public spaces
