As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, a disturbing new trend has emerged – the disappearance of solid, enclosed bathroom doors in hotel rooms. This cost-cutting measure, aimed at appeasing the watchful eye of chief financial officers, has left many guests feeling exposed and uncomfortable.
The Wall Street Journal’s investigation has shed light on this alarming development, where “sliding barn doors, curtains, strategically placed walls and other replacements” are increasingly replacing the traditional bathroom door. In some cases, hotels have gone even further, moving the sink and shower into the bedroom and enclosing the toilet in glass or cubby-like spaces.
“You couldn’t see the fine details, but you could see everything else,” lamented one victim of the frosted glass door phenomenon, highlighting the complete lack of privacy. “I love my husband, but I don’t want to see him use the restroom,” they added, echoing the sentiments of many.
The rationale behind this shift is clear – as Bjorn Hanson of New York University’s Jonathan M Tisch Center of Hospitality explains, “the humble door can look like a money pit” in the eyes of cost-conscious chief financial officers. Maintenance tasks such as light bulb changes and door handle upkeep are seen as unnecessary expenses that can be eliminated.
However, this false economy may come at a significant cost. Guests, particularly those sharing rooms with colleagues or strangers, are voicing their discontent, with one nihilistic hotel guest stating, “If the toilet is in the middle of the room, I don’t really care.” The question remains whether this trade-off between cost-saving and guest comfort will ultimately backfire, as travellers vote with their feet (and other body parts) in search of more private accommodations.
In response to this growing issue, a grassroots initiative known as the “Bring Back Doors” website has emerged. This crowd-sourced database catalogues the privacy levels of hotel bathrooms across various cities, from “confirmed bathroom door” to the dreaded “Zero privacy: no door, no wall, or wall with a window.” The driving force behind this vital public service is Sadie Lowell, a digital marketer who bears the scars of a traumatic hotel experience in 2024, where she and her father shared a room with no bathroom door.
As the hospitality industry continues to grapple with the balance between cost-cutting and guest satisfaction, the battle for the humble bathroom door rages on. Whether this trend will ultimately be reversed or become the new normal remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the days of hotel bathroom privacy may be numbered.
