Chilled Nights and Centralized Woes: A Hotel Stay Tale from Sundsvall
Hey there, fellow travelers! I recently embarked on a journey with my fellowship to Sundsvall, Sweden, for a relaxing Easter break. Little did I know that our hotel stay at Clarion Collection would come with its own set of surprises, especially when it came to the temperature control game.
The Chilly Awakening:
During a recent stay at the Clarion Collection hotel in Sundsvall, Sweden, I awoke at 5 AM shivering, my nose completely congested from the cold air blasting from the air conditioning system. To my dismay, there was no thermostat or controls in the room to adjust the temperature.
The Confusing Search for Answers:
I struggled to find a phone number to call the front desk and ask about the temperature control. No guide was provided near the phone listing important numbers like reception. I finally had to search online to find a contact number.
The Inflexible Central System:
Upon calling, I learned the AC was on a central system and could take up to an hour to warm up. With no ability to customize comfort in my room, I relied on external heating devices for the remainder of my stay.
Suggestions to Improve Guest Experience:
This experience exposed a major UX flaw in the hotel's temperature control design. People have varying health conditions and temperature preferences. Centralizing system controls out of guest reach severely diminishes comfort. Providing individual thermostats in each room would resolve this issue.
Additionally, printing an easy phone directory of key hotel contacts would prevent the confusion I endured. When woken abruptly in an unfamiliar setting, having clear access to support is essential.
Enhancing Convenience Through Customization:
With smarter UX decisions like customizable temperature controls and readily available phone contacts, hotels can transform even negative experiences into positive ones. The key is understanding that flexibility and giving control to individuals trumps standardized one-size-fits-all approaches. Guest comfort should never be compromised.
Conclusion:
While our Easter retreat had its chilly wake-up calls, it sparked some thoughts on how small tweaks could enhance the hotel experience for all. Here's to warmer nights and smoother calls in future stays!Stay tuned for more tales from the travel diaries, where every trip unfolds a new chapter in the world of user experiences.
Until then, stay cozy and keep exploring! 🌍🛌
- Sreehas Sreejith