Hotel rooms are shrinking
Hotels are proving good things really do come in small packages.
The micro hotel has always made sense in certain cities.
Tiny rooms in major business hubs of Tokyo, Manhattan and London, where space is at an absolute premium, are a practical alternative to expansive suites for travellers who simply need a place to sleep, shower and plonk an overnight bag.
And while Australia’s cities - which have much more space and far fewer people – may not seem like the ideal spot to launch micro hotel rooms, when you consider the cost of real estate it’s no surprise the concept is now being embraced here too.
Property prices certainly aren’t the only driver behind the tiny room’s rise in popularity. Solo travel has experienced a meteoric surge since the pandemic, with research showing global travel is surging.
Data from Booking.com showed that the number of travellers going solo had risen from 14 per cent pre-pandemic to 23 per cent by mid-2021 and continues to rise.
It’s worth noting that the micro hotel room is not to be confused with hotel pods or capsules, which, like traditional hostels, have shared bathroom facilities and are no larger than the size of a single bed. Micro room designs, in contrast, usually include all the luxury mod-cons of a hotel’s standard offering albeit on a smaller scale.
Ovolo recently announced it was expanding its tiny room offering within its domestic stable, introducing Go Go City Snug rooms for solo travellers at Ovolo South Yarra. The group also offers similarly small rooms at its Canberra Nishi and Wool Store 1888 properties.
Designed by renowned architect Rachel Luchetti of Luchetti Krelle, every centimetre of space has been considered, with a mini bar, walk-through bathroom and a queen-sized bed cozily incorporated into each 15 square metre room.
“The Go Go Snug rooms were conceived as an innovative option for the new, modern traveller as a solution for anyone looking for solo adventures and those with an entrepreneurial mindset,” Luchetti explains. “Naturally, the smaller rooms encourage guests to also make use of the communal areas in the hotel, which are all designed for both working and networking.”
In Sydney, the Little National Hotel has become a favourite among the corporate set, with its prime position above Wynyard Station and all the amenities a Millennial entrepreneur could want, including a library-slash-coworking space, rooftop lounge and terrace bar.
Rooms are fitted out with plush super king beds which span the width of the room, replete with TV, city views and Appelles Apothecary & Lab bathroom products.
Marketing consultant Beau Ushay is one of the Little National’s regulars. The former Sydneysider, who moved to Adelaide during the pandemic, travels back to Sydney once a month to meet clients. He says the micro room concept and communal facilities are ideal for short business trips.
“They’re very much ‘get in and get out’ type visits, so with that in mind I don’t need a lot of frills when I’m visiting Sydney,” he says. “I might see friends when I’m up there or be out at meetings so I don’t spend much time in the hotel room at all.
“All I need is a hotel with a good bed and a nice bathroom in a convenient location, and this ticks every box.”
Currently in Canberra and Sydney, the Little National Hotel group is expanding, with properties in Newcastle and Adelaide opening next year and in 2024 respectively.
Last year the 88-room ‘compact hotel’, Aiden by Best Western Darling Harbour, also opened its doors. Focusing on functionality, convenience and clever use of space, the smallest rooms are a tiny 13-15m2. Each room is well appointed with a Dyson hairdryer, refillable Rituals toiletries and feature works by artist-in-residence Jessica le Clerc, with communal still and sparkling water stations on each floor.
Ovolo marketing director Stephen Howard expects the small room trend will continue to grow, both locally and overseas.
“We have the rise of solo travellers for both leisure and corporate, and many people are also looking for a more economical way to travel without skimping on the amenities that you want within a room,” he says.
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