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Hotel room types: A complete guide

  Posted in Resources  Last updated 15/03/2024

Modern hotels are set up to welcome a wide variety of guests, from couples to families, business travellers and groups. This is reflected in hotel booking options, which provide for the differing needs of guests by offering a range of room types.

Single, double, queen, suite? The options available to provide guests with an experience that matches their needs go well beyond this list. The options are endless, and can be used by hoteliers to lure their ideal customers, book more rooms, boost revenue and more effectively manage rooms.

Here we dive into the types of hotel rooms hoteliers might use to sell rooms, covering all of the options and looking at how and why a hotel should set up different room types.

Table of contents

What is a hotel room type?

A hotel room type describes the accommodation on offer at a hotel and helps guests understand exactly what they’re booking when planning a stay at a hotel. The size, number and type of beds, amenities, what you can do in the room (for example, smoking or no smoking) and other factors might be used to categorise rooms into a type.

The type of hotel, the characteristics and layout of the hotel, its location and the guests will help a hotelier determine what combination of hotel room types should be on offer at a particular hotel.

Why should you use different room types at your hotel?

Having more than one type of room at your hotel means you can target specific client segments. Not only will you better meet the needs of each segment, you’ll be selling more rooms as people immediately identify an option that caters to their circumstances.

Different room types can also cater to different price points and the range of options available will give potential guests an idea of the overall standard of your hotel.

Room types can also be a powerful tool that supports your marketing strategy. Wanting to attract honeymooners to your hotel? Offering a “honeymoon suite” sends a message that your hotel is perfectly set up to offer a romantic and special experience for couples who’ve recently tied the knot.

Hotel rooms by occupancy

One of the most obvious and straightforward ways that hotel rooms can be categorised is by the number of people the room accommodates.

Single

A single room is designed for one occupant and has one bed – generally a double or queen bed.

Double

A room for two people, sometimes with two full-size beds and sometimes with a king or queen bed. The size of this room is usually larger than a single room.

Triple

As the name suggests, the triple is a room that can accommodate three people, and will generally include three twin beds, one double bed and one twin bed or two double beds.

Quad

A larger room that’s meant for four guests, and will have at least two double beds.
Some quad rooms may be set up with bunks or twins.

Hotel rooms by bed size

Another way hotel rooms can be categorised and named is by reference to the size of the bed in the room.

Queen

A room with a queen-sized bed which can be occupied by one or more people.

King

A room with a king-sized bed which can be occupied by one or more people.

Twin

A room with two twin beds which can be occupied by one or more people.

Hollywood Twin

Similar to a twin room, however the two twin beds are joined together by a common headboard.

Double double

A room with two double or queen beds. It’s meant to accommodate two to four people.

Studio

A studio room is a small room that comes with a couch that can be converted into a bed and sometimes contains additional beds or a small kitchenette.

Hotel rooms by layout type

The size, design and arrangement of the room in a hotel can be used to create different room types.

What is a standard room in a hotel?

A standard room is one of the cheapest hotel rooms, and usually includes a double or queen bed. It’s usually a rectangular space with a private bathroom, a desk, an armchair or sofa and perhaps a cupboard and dressing table. Other basic facilities are provided and may include a media player, television, telephone and coffee and tea making facilities.

Deluxe room

A step up from a standard room in terms of room views (may have water or city views, for example), location, furnishings and amenities. These rooms often have a balcony, more luxurious bathroom and are also a little more roomy generally.

Suite or executive suite

A suite is generally a larger space with separate bedroom areas connected to a living room. This type of room may also include a kitchenette.

Mini suite or junior suite

A mini suite is a single room with a bed and sitting area.

Presidential suite

Presidential suites are the most luxurious – and expensive – rooms in a hotel. There are generally only one or two of these, if any, within an entire hotel. This suite will boast an expansive floorplan with one or more bedrooms, a living space, a long list of amenities and custom services.

What is a guest room in a hotel?

A guest room usually refers to any type of room that isn’t a suite.

Apartment and long stay

Rooms with full kitchens, laundry facilities and other amenities that allow guests to stay comfortably for extended periods of time.

Connecting rooms

Rooms with separate entries from the outside and a connecting door between the rooms so guests can move between rooms without going out into the hallway. Great for families or groups.

Adjoining or adjacent rooms

Rooms with a common wall or rooms that are close to each other. These rooms do not have a connecting door.

hotel room types

Types of hotel rooms: The full list

The full list of hotel rooms is endless, and bound only by a hotelier’s creativity.

While rooms are commonly categorised by occupancy, bed size and layout – as described above – they can be categorised by amenities, who the room is most suited to, what’s included, the unique style of room or anything else that helps give guests an idea of what to expect when they book that room.

Some other rooms you might see on a hotel’s booking website include:

Accessible room

A room designed to meet the specific needs of guests with a disability or guests whose stay might be made more comfortable with additional assistance.

Room only

Hostels, bed and breakfasts and dorm-style hotels may include a room only, with the bathroom, kitchen and living spaces shared between guests.

Pet-friendly room

A hotel may allow all or some rooms to accommodate certain types of pets or service animals.

Villa, cabana, cabin or bungalow

These are just some of the names resort-style hotels may use for stand-alone rooms, rooms with private or adjoining pools, beach-side rooms and similar.

Executive room

These rooms may come with bigger desks and other perks and be located close to the hotel’s guest office amenities.

Smoking/Non-smoking room

Rooms may be designated to allow or restrict smoking inside the room.

How to set up your hotel rooms

With so many options when it comes to types of rooms, how does a hotelier decide which room types to offer?

When running through the process of listing and defining room types, these four considerations are particularly important:

1. Your hotel and brand
The physical layout of your hotel, location, amenities and brand personality should help guide your choices. For example, luxe hotels want to convey their special qualities in the room options – no need for “standard” rooms here!

2. Your target audience
The reasons your guests stay with you, and their values and preferences, will also guide the selection of room types.

3.The customer journey
Don’t make it hard for potential guests to make a decision – give them clarity and flexibility when booking.

4. The room’s special qualities
Make sure the room type and description captures the special qualities of the room type – especially if you’re charging a higher price.

Mapping and selling your room types on a hotel channel manager

Now you have your room types sorted, the next step is to manage and sell the rooms!

A hotel channel manager can help boost the visibility of your rooms by relaying real-time information about the rooms available in your hotel and their rates across a wide range of distribution channels.

A hotel channel manager can integrate with your existing systems and allow you to manage inventory from one location. You can easily update your rates, reduce overbookings and streamline processes and payment processing. A channel manager will also provide the insights to help inform your marketing and sales strategies and grow your business faster.

If you’re ready to explore this technology, register for a free trial of our leading platform and learn how to map your rooms and rates.

By Dean Elphick

Dean is the Senior Content Marketing Specialist of SiteMinder, the leading technology provider delivering hoteliers unbeatable revenue results. Dean has made writing and creating content his passion for the entirety of his professional life, which includes more than six years at SiteMinder. Through content, Dean aims to provide education, inspiration, assistance and value for accommodation businesses looking to improve the way they run their operations achieve their goals.

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