Hotel amenities are the additional items, services and offerings in a hotel, beyond the provision of a guest room. Some of the main examples of amenities in hotels include toiletries, internet access, and a complimentary breakfast.

Amenities help to enhance the guest experience, providing comfort, entertainment, support and convenience. They also serve as a major competitive differentiator in the industry, allowing hotels to stand out from rival properties.

In this article, you’ll learn all about hotel amenities, with examples of basic and luxury hotels.

Table of Contents:

What Is the Hotel Industry?

At its heart, the hotel industry provides guests with overnight accommodation. In contrast with the wider hospitality industry, the hotel industry provides places where guests can sleep for one or more nights. Yet the hotel industry is so much more than that. Along with offering hotel amenities and serving the needs of weary travelers, the hotel industry also provides a great deal to the local community. It offers a range of opportunities in different fields and at different skill levels, from management and accountancy to housekeeping and security.

The hotel industry is important economically, representing a large percentage of the world’s financial transactions. According to the Hotels – Worldwide Statistics by Statista, the hotel market is projected to reach $508.9 billion by 2028. The hotel industry also provides experiences. Great hotel management can create experiences that make an enormous difference to guests, whether they’re holiday-makers looking to relax for a while or business travelers who need fresh and rejuvenation for a big meeting. To learn more, read “Hotel Industry: Everything You Need to Know About Hotels!”

What Are Hotel Amenities?

Hotel amenities are those additional items and services in a hotel room that can transform a guest’s stay from a pleasant rest to an outstanding experience. Amenities are provided at no additional charge to make a guest’s stay more convenient and comfortable. Most hotels provide toiletries, hair dryers, shaving supplies, sewing kits, etc. These have come to be expected by guests, who might be disappointed or annoyed if they weren’t provided.

As well as these essentials, hotels may provide additional amenities to make their service stand out. Increasingly, hotels are looking for items that guests will find useful and enjoyable without increasing their budget unreasonably and making it easier to execute for hotel operations. A few wisely chosen additional items can make a huge difference to a guest’s experience while not representing a large additional expense. Hotels need to exercise creativity and imagination to provide items that will impress the discerning guest.

Table: What Is the Difference Between Hotel Amenities and Facilities?

Hotel amenities often get confused with hotel facilities. Both serve crucial roles in hotel management but provide different services to hotel guests. The following table highlights the differences between the two aspects. For more information about hotel facilities, read “Hotel Facilities: Everything You Should Know About Facilities in Hotels.”

Aspect Hotel Amenities Hotel Facilities
Definition Additional services or conveniences provided to enhance the guest experience. Physical spaces, infrastructure, and equipment within the hotel property.
Purpose Aimed at providing comfort, convenience, and enjoyment to guests. Support the hotel’s overall operations and offer essential services.
Types Room amenities (e.g., toiletries, minibar, coffee maker).
Luxury hotel amenities (beach/pool towels, robes, additional products).		 – On-site services (e.g., spa, fitness center, restaurant).
– Recreational facilities (e.g., swimming pool, golf course).

Basic Hotel Amenities In Most Hotels

These are the essential amenities that most hotels will provide. They are the basics that any hotel guest would usually expect.

Toiletries & Personal Items

Hotel amenities almost always include a few personal items and toiletries. Soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion are usually provided, as are towels and bathrobes. A hotel might also provide toothpaste and mouthwash. Items like razors and shower caps are common. Many hotels also provide hairdryers, irons, ironing boards, and washers/dryers.

Free Wi-Fi

The days of expecting guests to pay steep fees for Wi-Fi are long gone. Nowadays, guests expect Wi-Fi internet access to be one of the most basic hotel amenities. Guests expect it, like shampoo. Actually, according to the Global Guest Sentiment Report by Planet, 56% of the respondents consider WiFi as the most vital hotel amenity. Take your amenities to the next level by allowing guests access to streaming platforms on hotel TVs.

Free Parking

Charging guests for parking can often be a deal-breaker. Many short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, come with free parking; if your hotel charges a parking fee, guests are more likely to choose a short-term rental instead. While free parking isn’t universally expected, it can be an attractive hotel amenity.

Free Breakfast

When competing with short-term rentals that often include kitchens (and sometimes free food), a free breakfast can make a big difference to guests. A continental breakfast buffet is a convenient and popular option, while a sit-down hot breakfast at no extra charge can impress guests.

Charging Stations

Today’s guests are likely to travel with a variety of devices. As well as standard power points, offering USB charging ports for your guests is a good idea. Guests will especially appreciate USB charging close to their beds. If your guests include international travelers, consider offering universal sockets or adapters.

In-Room Coffee & Tea

Tea and coffee facilities are one of the most popular hotel amenities. A sad little collection of instant coffee packets and an electric kettle are unlikely to impress guests accustomed to capsule coffee-makers at home. Consider offering a capsule coffee maker and complimentary bottled water for guests.

Hotel Amenities - Hotel Room

Luxury Hotel Amenities

For truly discerning travelers, only the best will do. Upscale establishments need to think outside the box regarding hotel amenities.

In-Room Tablets

An in-room tablet takes your hotel amenities into the digital age. A tablet can display your guestroom guide in digital format, allowing guests to find everything they need with a couple of taps. A well-chosen app can let guests find out information about the hotel and its environs, order room service, and request items such as towels or toiletries. Some hotel apps allow guests to chat with the front desk over instant messenger. In-room tablets are one of the easiest hotel technologies to implement and can make a guest’s stay much more convenient and enjoyable.

Free Bikes

If your hotel is in a bike-friendly area, your guests may want to take full advantage of the opportunity to see the sights from a bicycle. This is a great opportunity to provide an attractive hotel amenity: a fleet of free bikes that guests can use at no extra charge. If circumstances allow, you could even offer your area cycling tours so guests can enjoy their destination fully. A daily or weekly cycling tour gives guests something to look forward to and lets them know that your hotel cares about their enjoyment.

Smart TVs

After a long day of sightseeing, guests often want to relax with their favorite streaming shows. Smart TVs allow guests to log onto their usual streaming platforms and enjoy films and programs from the comfort of their hotel rooms. Smart TVs can also be used for interactive hotel apps, allowing guests to access room service and other services through the TV. Another hotel amenity to consider is the addition of Bluetooth speakers so guests can play music from their smartphones or MP3 players. Good-quality sound is something that guests will appreciate.

Free Library

Holiday reading is one of the classic ways to relax: ditching digital devices and taking a traditional paper book to the beach or the hotel patio and escaping the world for a while. We’ve all had the experience of finishing a book before the end of the trip and being left with nothing to read. Providing your guests with quality reading material helps to create a more relaxing experience. A hotel book exchange doesn’t just entertain your guests — it can also promote a feeling of community as guests can share the experience of discovering a new favorite title together.

Creative Hotel Amenities To Exceed Your Guests Expectations

These creative amenities will make your hotel stand out from the crowd.

Hotel Amenities - Creative Amenities

Relaxation Devices

Relaxation is something that most guests want from a hotel stay. They may have just endured a long trip or a hectic day of meetings and presentations. You can help your guests to relax by providing spa-like amenities in their rooms. Soothing eye masks, scent diffusers, and white noise machines are easy to implement and inexpensive.

Unique Technology

Every hotel is different and caters to a distinct variety of guests. You can harness these distinctions to make your hotel special. For example, if golfers often frequent your hotel, you could add a golf simulator to your amenities. Take the time to investigate the profiles of your guests and see how you could add hotel technology that fits their interests.

A Touch of Local History or Flavors

Guests are probably visiting your hotel because they’re interested in their destination. You can improve their experience by adding more local elements, which is becoming a growing hotel trend. Local food and drink, local history, sites of specific interest — you can bring these into your guests’ rooms. Examples might be small samples of local food or a souvenir guidebook.

In-Room Cocktail Sets

Sure, most hotels offer a mini-bar and facilities for hot drinks. You can take things up by offering a cocktail station in your guest rooms. Some guests enjoy mixing their favorite drinks just the way they like them. If there are local beverages and flavors that your hotel’s area is known for, include these along with a recipe so guests can mix their delicious drinks. A cocktail station is a stand-out hotel amenity, providing guests an additional luxury touch.

Air Purification

A guestroom air purifier is a great amenity for a city hotel. As well as reducing odors, these devices filter pollutants and allergens. This makes for a healthier and more relaxing room environment. An air purifier might be necessary for guests with allergies or respiratory issues. Providing one will be a major point in your hotel’s favor.

Video: 9 Over-the-Top Luxury Hotel Amenities

The Importance of Hotel Amenities for Different Hotel Guests

Tailoring the hotel amenities you offer to different guest profiles is important. Families traveling with children will appreciate different amenities to business travelers. For instance, a family might be wowed by a smart TV but left cold by a trouser-press, which the business traveler might need.

With this guide, you’ll be able to identify and target key demographics more effectively. Read “Different Types of Hotel Guests and Tips on How to Appeal to Them” to learn how guest profiles can work for you.

One of the Essential Hotel Amenities – Hotel Breakfasts

Hotel breakfasts are some of the most popular and universal hotel amenities. The right breakfast is a great way for guests to get their day off to an excellent start. You can offer your guests multiple types of hotel breakfasts depending on their needs and expectations.

In “Hotel Breakfast: Types, Overview & Tips to Impress Your Guests”, you’ll learn about different types of hotel breakfasts and how to make yours stand out.

Hotel Amenities FAQs

They do, but it differs by price range. Most hotels will provide the basics, such as hair products and soap. But more luxurious options might have everything from oral hygiene products to footwear.

Some of the amenities are exclusives, such as with loyalty programs or other criteria. But the majority of the amenities will be available to everyone.

The amenities can provide a better experience for guests by increasing comfort, making things easier, and generally providing a more restful and convenient stay.

Both complementary and paid laundry services are quite common. The services range from standard same-day laundry to dry cleaning.

Every element of a hotel has eco-friendly options. Transportation with bikes, food services with organically grown options, and amenities like recycling bins or reusable containers for water.

Exceeding guests’ expectations will mean different things for different hotels. What you choose to provide will depend on your clientele and their specific needs. Creating a memorable experience doesn’t require huge changes — a few well-chosen additions can make all the difference.

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This article is written by:

Martijn Barten

Hi, I am Martijn Barten, founder of Revfine.com. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I specialize in optimizing revenue by combining revenue management with marketing strategies. I have successfully developed, implemented, and managed revenue management and marketing strategies for individual properties and multi-property portfolios.