Sometimes the internet is a black hole that sucks you into a vortex of information you didn’t need. And sometimes it’s a gift that just keeps giving.
Did you all see the Twitter thread that trended last week originated by a guy named Rick Klau? He posted a classic hotel guestroom hack: Use the clips of the pants/skirt hanger in the room to pinch the blackout drapes closed.
I don't remember who posted this on Twitter a few years ago, but whoever you are: you have improved every night I've spent in a hotel since. pic.twitter.com/NpuuumqHV8 — Rick Klau (@rklau) October 4, 2019
If you missed this, please take a look through the thread that grew and grew, inspiring 73,000 retweets and more than 403,000 likes, garnering comments from people all over the world, including some minor celebrities.
People chimed in with their own hacks. Some of the most popular were suggestions to use the ironing board as an extension of the desk or dresser, wrap the remote in the shower cap to avoid germs, and drape a towel over the PTAC to avoid it blowing directly on you overnight.
Some lesser-known hacks (at least to me) included fashioning humidifiers out of wet towels, packing a nightlight for the bathroom, and bringing your own outlet splitters and extension cords.
Like all good Twitter threads, it’s funny, at times horrifying and an excellent glimpse into the minds of our fellow inhabitants on this vast planet.
As I read through the thread, a couple major themes emerged that shouldn’t surprise anyone, but I’ll highlight them here:
- Everyone thinks all surfaces of all hotels are cesspools of germs, particularly the remote control: Of course this isn’t all true, but it’s a good pulse check, honestly. If you go in assuming all guests think this way, all the more reason to prove them wrong.
- Expectations of cleanliness and service are segment-agnostic: Yes, people get into a lot of snippy arguments on this Twitter thread, but very rarely did I see people qualifying remarks based on hotel segment. There was little talk of, “Well, if you stay in an economy hotel, what do you expect?” or “I expect more from a luxury hotel.” Essentially, everyone expects the basics.
- Customizable space is important: People loved talking about that ironing board hack! They use it to extend the desk, to extend the dresser, to extend bathroom counter space. Basically, they use it for everything except ironing, because they all agreed with the hack of hanging your clothes on the back of the bathroom door to steam out wrinkles.
- Technology must be accessible: Had this thread come out five years ago, it would have been all about spotty Wi-Fi. Not now. That wasn’t even a top complaint, which means you all deserve a collective pat on the back for by and large healing that pain point. This time around, it’s all about accessibility—more outlets, extension cords, power strips, combination outlets that include USB ports.
- Light at night is bad: The genesis of this thread of course was the hack to pinch the curtains shut, and this really was the No. 1 complaint (well, maybe No. 2 behind perception of germs). Funny enough, while people had a million hacks to pinch the curtains shut, nobody suggested packing their own sleep mask.
I hope you skim this Twitter thread, laugh a little and take it as free advice.
Yes, it can be a little disheartening (scratch that, probably a lot disheartening) to read what a lot of people pre-suppose about all hotel rooms—that they’re disgustingly filthy, have employees that could care less and are out of touch with what guests want.
But it’s also a little peek into what guests really do value, and what they’re willing to do—like pack surge protector power strips and rig up humidifiers with chair backs and ironing boards—to make their stays comfortable.
Want to share your thoughts on hotel hacks or share your own? Comment below, email me at sricca@hotelnewsnow.com or find me on Twitter @HNN_Steph.
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