How to hotels assign rooms to reservations? Is there an order - is it just sequential, or totally random?

I am asking because it would seem I always get assigned a room where there are always people staying in the rooms next to me. I always put on my reservation that I am a real loud snorer. I would think that they would try and put guests in rooms as spread out as possible to increase the sense of quietness. For instance I am staying in a hotel tonight, just for one night. I am positive the hotel is pretty dead - the receptionist as much as said so. Yet it seems like everyone on this floor is crowded around one little area.

It would make sense to put everyone closer together for economic reasons: aircon, hot water, lighting, cleaning.

If an average occupancy rate is even 80% (and in many places considerably higher), not much chance of vacant rooms.

Interesting post. I've always wondered the same thing. I've been at hotels that definitely were not full and it does appear they bunch us together. I always hate that as I hear talking , TVs and doors slamming. I like to be in my own wing.

I imagine it's like a big game of Tetris.

+1 (It would keep hotel owners cost down))

If it's busy, you're going to have neighbors no matter what, but there are several things that go into assigning rooms.

For during slow times:

Most people want higher floors, so that eliminates the 1st floor.

Then you've got 3 housekeepers to cover the remaining floors. It's better to have them concentrated on 1 or 2 floors rather than scattered throughout the rest running and moving carts around waiting to see if that DND is gone or a guest has checked out.

Then you've got to consider maintenance and deep cleaning of rooms. A hotel may take an entire floor out to do touch up maintenance work and deep cleaning of carpets, curtains, etc. during slow periods.

In addition to the utilities, security is also a factor. If something were to happen, having other people nearby may help.



When it is busy, it is a bit like Tetris, fitting all the pieces together in the best way possible.

It is a complicated process. They must consider type of room, duration of stay, status, occupancy rate not only for all in hotel, but planned and unplanned arrivals.

...and room preferences of elite members of their Frequent Stayer programme

I've wondered this as well ever since I stayed at a Wyndham in August where there were maybe five occupied rooms that night and they assigned me an accessible room (which I don't need and didn't request)

I'm sure price factors into room location as well. I stayed at a HI Exp last month on a super cheap rate, and my room looked like something from the 70s. (The property was taken over from another brand.) Pics/reviews on IHG all said the place has updated rooms.

zero randomness

even at small independent property, it may be arbitrary, but not random

Roughly one at a time.

Are rooms still assigned by humans? I guess I just automatically assumed that when you booked a room, the reservation system assigned a room then, whether based on a given set of rules, or just by randomly assigning a room based on category and status randomly from the available room numbers.

A lot depends on the property. If a base-level chain hotel, if it is handled at all, it is largely handled by software which can then be manipulated by a room assigner (depending on property size) who might be the FD clerk the night before. If you are looking at a real luxury (because it is, not just because a chain uses some fake "*" rating), there is a great deal of effort put into the process and it includes knowing what a guest's minute preferences are. If you asked for an extra pillow last time, there will be an extra pillow already in the room and so on.

Leaving rooms empty make no economic sense whatsoever, unless you want to book the extra rooms to keep them empty. If you are staying at a property where you can hear snoring though the walls, you should consider staying at one with real walls !