As with all other aspects of travel, lodging options have evolved — but one simple improvement in hotel rooms no one may have noticed has almost certainly at least minimally eased the jobs of members of housekeeping staffs; and is marginally beneficial for guests as well.
One Simple Improvement in Hotel Rooms No One May Have Noticed.
That simple improvement is the “solid” platform on which the bed rests. This platform may be constructed of either wood, metal, or some other sturdy material.
Years ago, most beds were traditionally supported by metal legs known as bed rails — some of which were equipped with wheels — which left virtually all of the space underneath the bed completely open and accessible. This posed three problems:
- If members of the housekeeping staff cleaned underneath the bed, they would need to crouch or kneel down and reach underneath with a vacuum cleaner to do at least an adequate job.
- If members of the housekeeping staff did not clean underneath the bed, the results were obvious — which included clumps of dust and dirt and litter which remained underneath the bed for who knows how long.
- Lost items which a guest mistakenly left behind may also be found underneath the bed; and the guest simply may not have thought to inspect underneath the bed to ensure that he or she will not leave anything of value behind.
Inexpensive budget hotel and motel properties were arguably the first to convert the bases of their beds to platforms for the aforementioned list of reasons. Over the years, that trend eventually spread to mid-range hotel properties and ultimately to luxury hotel and resort properties.
Finding a bed which rests on bed rails is very difficult to do these days.
Final Boarding Call
Some guests may consider the “solid” platform a downgrade instead of an improvement if they preferred to store their luggage underneath the bed. If the hotel property had drawers or other spaces built into the platform of the bed — as with Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea as an excellent example — that issue would be resolved in a cleaner and more sanitary way.
The Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport hotel property has an example of a bed which still offers space underneath in a different and modern way — but not everyone likes this solution.
I never stored any belongings underneath a bed supported by traditional bed rails because of all of the dust, dirt, and litter that I usually found under the bed whenever I would check to ensure that no belonging of mine inadvertently would up under the bed and would be left behind and forgotten.
I personally like the idea of never having to look underneath the bed because of the platform that supports it, as it saves me time with one fewer place to check — and an inconvenient one at that, as I had to either bend, kneel, or crouch to do so — and ensure that I am not leaving anything of value behind…
…and I am sure that members of the housekeeping staff like the idea of having one fewer place in the room to clean — especially as that place was never exactly the easiest part of the room to properly clean.
When was the last time you looked under the bed in a hotel room — if ever — in which you were a guest?
All photographs ©2017, ©2022, and ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
