Compactness is everywhere. Everything around seems to be on a shrink spree from cameras to residences. But hospitality has distanced from this trend...at least it seemed so this far. Lavishly spaced rooms, brightly sunlit, cool winds breezing through...these were phrases that one expects to relate to a luxury hotel room. But all this has changed with compact hotels, a trend that springs out of convenience and utility, catering to the global citizens who are on the move, offering them the comfort and features of luxury hotels along with several other options.

The concept of these hotels started nearly three decades ago in 1979 with capsule hotels in Japan. However, they are gaining a lot of popularity now and offering interesting options to the global travellers. One thing common among them is that along with the compactness, each one positions itself uniquely. With luxury and convenience, there is always another aspect that sets them apart and attractive as well. This could be their presence near transport hubs like airports or train stations.

Some associate with sporting activity and others are right in the heart of the city. As a series, some of these compact hotels are explored, featuring their architectural and experiential quotients.

Yotel
A new and efficient definition of comfort in hospitality has arrived and is here to stay. Yotel — a cross between Japanese capsule hotels and first class airline cabins.

 Yotel cabins at Gatwick Airport in England:  Yotel is a trendy chic hotel, the latest entrant as a new chain of economy hotels. With comfort as a premium in a compact space, Yotel is located in airport terminal buildings at London Heathrow’s Terminal 4 and London Gatwick’s South Terminal. 

The idea
Yotel was conceived by Simon Woodroffe, Chairman and Founder of YO! Everything. After the huge success of YO! Sushi in 1997, which introduced Londoners to sushi on moving conveyor belts, with drinks served by robots, Simon was inspired by Japanese Capsule hotels and luxury airline travel. Designed by Priestman Goode, a UK based design consultancy in 2005, Yotel was launched in 2007 at London’s airport terminals. Gerard Greene, CEO of Yotel, who evolved Yotel into reality, says, “This is a wakeup call for the hotel industry. We have been bold enough to take steps that no other hotel has taken before, allowing us to offer luxury accommodation at affordable prices.”

Yotel is everything you would expect from a luxury hotel in a small cabin space. It is stylish yet affordable. It is ideal when one seeks privacy to work, entertain, rest, eat or freshen while waiting for hours to catch a connecting flight or during unexpected flight delays. It is very convenient as one is only minutes away from the departure points of the flights. A compact package in a long journey, Yotel can be booked hourly or overnight from £25.

Yotel cabin prototypes by Priestman Goode:  Priestman Goode elaborates on Yotel in its website as, “Yotel is a visionary concept for future hotels with multi functional requirements of the traveller in mind. From the business person to the tourist, Yotel aims to offer customers a first class experience at affordable prices.” Several features in Yotel make it attractive, the key ones being compact furniture that is flexible, and techno savvy gadgets. Options are Premium and Standard cabins with areas of 10.5 sq.m and 7 sq.m.

The cabins have a double bed that repositions as a couch, a techno wall with clothes storage, pull down working desk with charging points, network cable socket and free Wi-fi and wired internet access.  A plasma TV offers free TV and movie viewing along with options of playing music, ordering food and setting a wake up alarm. Swamped by gadgets and furniture that transforms at the touch of a button, you can surely walk out of the room feeling like James Bond himself.

Yotel is a novel model, bridging the transport and hospitality industries. Offering a synchronisation between convenience and comfort, it is definitely a successful business venture too. If one seeks a short and private duration of comfort in a public space like an airport, Yotel is the place to be. Contemporary, stylish and loaded with technology, Yotel defies convention, leaving a mark with its convenience. You will surely be Yo!ed for good!