Encapsulating Hospitality

Ad for "Nine Hours" Capsule Hotel

On a trip through Asia with a particularly long (twenty hour) layover at Tokyo Narita, I had the opportunity to stay in a "capsule" hotel.  I had heard about these barracks-like accommodations and was curious to see what they were all about.  Essentially, this concept appeals to the "bare bones" traveler and offers virtually no space or amenities.  The benefit ... it's a place to "crash" with a very low price tag for travelers who are stuck in an airport. The price for all night accommodations is 3,900 Yen (under $US40). 

When I say "bare bones" I mean "bare bones."  Check in doesn't look at all like a hotel reception.  Guests are given a bag with a robe, towel, slippers and a toothbrush and pointed to an appropriate door (male or female).  Going through the door, you enter a locker room reminiscent of a gym.  You lock your clothes and other belongings in the locker, put on the robe and head for the showers.  After a shower, you head to the sleeping room, which truly is a

The Locker Room

long hallway with a honeycomb of capsules for sleeping.  The capsules are about seven feet deep three feet (or so) wide) and stacked two high.  Two get to the upper capsule, the guest has to navigate a set of steps built into the plastic structure.  The only amenities in the capsule are a light, a duvet and a very small shelf.  The capsules are so close that you can hear all the sounds of 75 sleeping guests - including snoring, coughing and entrances and exits.

The men's section of the capsule hotel looked to be sold out, so the concept seems to have some appeal - though I wonder how the concept plays with women.

The Sleeping Pods

In the ever changing world of hospitality product development, it is interesting to see concepts like this at the low end of the market.  While traveling in Europe, I found another concept that was "bare bones" and low price.  When you arrived at the hotel, there was no one at the front desk ... just a vending machine with little glass windows.  If there was a key in the window, the room was available.  If you insert a credit card, the machine dispenses a key and you had a room for the night. A very small, plain room, but at a very low price.  For the hotel ... minimal staff and minimal servicing costs.

These are interesting times indeed for the hospitality industry.