In the process of looking for a hotel to book, the issue of availability of smoking rooms may be very determinable to many people. But do hotels have smoking rooms? Actually, the answer to this question is not a clear and simple yes.
Therefore, in this article, the author will enlighten the readers on the developments of smoking rooms in hotels, the present state, the mystery behind why some hotels remain resistant to banning smoking rooms, and the possibilities of the future about these sections. Thus if you are interested whether you can smoke in your hotel room or whether you will need to go out, read further on.
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History of Smoking Rooms in Hotels
Stretch of smoker friendly accommodation is not something new in the world. Some decades earlier smoking was normal and hotels even provided smoking rooms for their guests. People could light up a cigarette in their room, for example, and it was not even considered to be impolite, meanwhile, the corridors of hotels often reeked of cigarette smoke.
Thus, it was not only the question of convenience, but it also responded to the organizational needs of targeting the significant part of the visitors. Equal health issues to individual smokers as well as the passersby or other people who are within reach of lung cancer causing smoke became more highlighted. For this reason, a large number of hotels began to reconsider the presence of smoking rooms in their establishments.
Current Trends in Hotel Smoking Policies
At the present time, the most important trend in the sphere of the hospitality industry can be considered as non-smoking policies. Currently, several hotels in the world and especially those in the western world have gone to the extent of enforcing a totally smoke-free facility. Regarding the smoking issue, there is information that only a few hotels still provide smoking rooms based on latest data.
Such a trend can be attributed to the changes that are observed in society, or more specifically, the focus on the improvement of the quality of life. However, smoking rooms’ presence is still present although their impact has not been the same as that of the past. To achieve this, the following are some main practices that hotels, especially in areas with high statistics of smoking, continue to offer their visitors Smoking Sections or Smoking Rooms.
Reasons Hotels Still Offer Smoking Rooms
Why then is there a provision of smoking rooms in hotels? The first of them is demand from the guest side. Originally, in some markets, guests prefer or even expect to be able to smoke in their rooms. As for smoking rooms, the hotel can target these people and guarantee that it won’t lose them as customers to other establishments.
Also, there are monetary benefits Since human resources is a critical success factor in most organizations, there are several incentives. Smoking rooms may be charged higher rates from customers, hence reputed to as another source of additional incomes for hotels. This could be especially interesting in areas where smoking is still rampant.
How Hotels Manage Smoking Rooms
Hotels control the provision of smoking rooms through assured air purification systems, for alleviating smell from cigarette smoking, for aggravated cleaning with effective products, and finally, some contain smoking rooms on distinct floors or certain parts of the building. Such measures prevent impacting the rest of the territory of the hotel or restaurant, maintaining comfortable conditions for all clients.
Health Concerns and Smoking Rooms
Some of the primary issues that people have with smoking rooms revolve around the possible effects on the health of other unrelated guests. Hallway-smoking create designs that allow secondhand smoke to leach into next rooms where people may be sleeping.
To reduce such risks, several measures are observed including; proper ventilation/provide effective and efficient air circulation systems and do proper and constant cleaning. Nonetheless, based on these endeavors, it is still possible for non-smokers to come across potential residual smoke. As a result of this, most of the hotels have gone to depths of completely banning smoking in their premises to accommodate all guests’ healthy needs.
Regulations Governing Smoking Rooms in Hotels
Currently, restrictions to smoking rooms in hotels differ from one country to another and on some occasions even from one region to another. In some locations, legislation concerning the creation and proper use of smoking sections is very stringent. Hotels need to follow these regulations to the letter because they attract very severe penalties.
For example, smoking policies vary with the regions of the United States even within individual facilities or buildings. Some states have very effective anti-smoking policies, which do not allow smoking inside the enclosed space, including the hotel rooms. It has been discovered, however, that other states permit the operators of hotels to set a portion of the rooms to be smoking rooms.
Do Hotels Have Smoking Rooms
The Role of Customer Reviews
Consumers’ opinions are another factor that influence a hotel’s policies concerning smoking rooms significantly. The flow of people in hotels also post their experience on social media platforms and the information posted can either have positive or negative impact on the hotel. One hears cases of smoke smells or the lack of facilities for non-smokers making them think severally about their policies.
On the other hand positive feedback from guests who appreciate the services of smoking rooms can help support a hotel decision to continue to offer such a services. Finally, it can be concluded that customer feedback is essential to help hotels measure the degree of guests’ preferences for particular services and make suitable decisions.
Benefits and Drawbacks for Hotels
Benefits:
- Attracts a Niche Market: Having smoking rooms can attract and accommodate the guests who or those in need of smoking facilities thus increasing the occupancy levels.
- Additional Revenue Stream: Smoking rooms are implemented of course at times at a higher rate compared to the non-smoking rooms hence generating more cash for the hotel.
- Customer Satisfaction: Meets the need of smoker guests will increase guest satisfaction and guest loyalty.
Drawbacks:
- Higher Maintenance Costs: The aspect of cleaning and maintenance of the smoking rooms is usually more comprehensive and costly than the non-smoking ones.
- Potential for Negative Reviews: These guests could give negative comments if they detect smell of smoke from previous occupants of the room and this could dent the hotels reputation.
- Health and Safety Concerns: Secondhand smoke is unfavorable as it has health consequences; this may cause people to complain, possibly bringing the issue to the legal system.
Smoking Rooms and Hospitality Industry Trends
The number of smoke-free policies in the hospitality industry has gone up, indicating adoption linked to global health trends and guest preferences. Nonetheless, some hotels continue to have rooms designated for smoking in order to cater for specific markets. The attempt by hoteliers to reconcile the needs of smokers and those interested in well-being mirrors a general trend towards healthier environments and where guests are going professionally.
Case Studies of Major Hotel Chains
Today’s case of Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt hotel chain provides a worthy example of the varying strategies for dealing with smoking policies. Marriott has gone further with its policy of making most of its locations in North America smoke free, although Hilton still has some smoking rooms.
But at the same time, it is a successful mixture of both, as there are special smoking areas in countries that require this. These case studies show how various chains manage altering demands of guests and laws.
Future of Smoking Rooms in Hotels
Thus, smoking rooms in hotels can be assumed to be a subject to further development in connection with trends in health and amendments in legislation. In view of this it may also register a decline in the availability of smoking rooms since most countries are passing legislation against smoking and as people demands for environments free of smoke fumes increases.
However, there is some probability that certain numbers of hotels could carry on to provide Smoking accommodation as a specialty market service. The question of how to meet smokers’ rights and, at the same time, provide comfortable conditions for all guests will be considered crucial.
Tips for Smokers Booking Hotels
- Check the Hotel’s Smoking Policy: Check whether the hotel has smoking rooms or not by visiting the link of the hotel or by dialing them up.
- Request Specific Rooms: It is wise to request for rooms on the smoking floors so that the clients do not have to worry.
- Consider Outdoor Options: If the absence of indoor smoking rooms is unavoidable, then one should consider looking for smoking friendly hotels with regions for smoking outdoors.
- Book in Advance: Although smoking rooms are reasonably available, these are quite scarce and should therefore be reserved as early as possible.
Alternatives to Smoking Rooms
If smokers cannot locate a hotel with smoke permissible rooms, there are other options to think about. Most of the hotels have areas for smoking particularly outside the building, which helps in ensuring that the interior air quality is not affected.
Also, the proximity of hotels and motels to other establishments also poses a problem as some of them are situated close to smoking lounges or cafes. Despite the mentioned alternatives could be different than smoking rooms and may not be as comfortable, they might meet the expectations of any guest who requires smoking during their accommodation.
Conclusion
All in all, the fact that hotels have smoking rooms cannot be definitely stated or denied. Although numerous hotel businesses are striving to promote smokers’ free zones, a number of them still for smokers’ rooms for the guests and the market’s sake.
With health consciousness and changes in legislation, it is expected that the prospect of smoking rooms in hotels depends on health trends and attitudes of the traveling guests. It is important to be careful about the smoking policies of the hotel regardless the one is a smoker or a non-smoker.
