There are several reasons why most hotel rooms do not have windows that can be opened by guests.[1] While opening windows may seem like a nice amenity, hotels have to consider factors like safety, energy efficiency, noise, and climate control when designing their rooms. In general, keeping guests sealed inside rooms with controlled environments takes priority over providing fresh outside air in most hotels.
Safety and Security Concerns
One of the biggest reasons hotels don’t have openable windows is for safety and security. With open windows, there is an increased risk of:
- People falling out – This could lead to injury or death.
- Intruders getting in – Open windows provide an easy access point for trespassers and thieves.
- Guests climbing out – Guests could more easily sneak out without paying or engage in risky behavior outside their rooms.
High-rise hotels are especially careful about limiting windows, as falls from upper floors could be fatal. Similarly, ground floor rooms often have sealed windows to prevent unwanted entry.
Open windows also allow for the passage of airborne contaminants like smoke or chemical/biological agents into the building.[2] For safety reasons, modern building codes often require fixed windows in hotels and other commercial buildings.
Liability Concerns
Beyond direct safety issues, open windows also create liability risks for hotels. If someone falls from an open window, gets injured climbing in or out, or is victimized by an intruder, the hotel may share some legal liability depending on local laws and the specific circumstances.[3] Sealed windows limit the hotel’s exposure in these types of cases.
Increased Security Costs
Finally, there are security costs associated with monitoring openable windows. Staff would have to regularly check floors to make sure no unauthorized individuals have gained entry through open windows. Extra sensors and alarms may also be needed. These expenses can be avoided with fixed, sealed windows.
Energy Efficiency
Sealed windows also contribute to energy efficiency in hotels. Heat and cooled air can leak out of open windows, increasing HVAC costs. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers estimates that air leakage through building cracks, openings, and penetrations like windows accounts for between 25-40% of energy loss in buildings.[4]
Keeping windows closed helps hotels retain conditioned indoor air and minimize energy expenditures. It also allows climate control systems to operate more efficiently compared to having to adjust for variable open-window conditions on a room-by-room basis.
Meeting Green Building Standards
In addition, limiting window openings allows hotels to more easily meet green building standards like LEED, which emphasizes energy performance. There are credits and prerequisites for minimized air infiltration in programs like LEED and ENERGY STAR.[5] Sealed windows provide more control and predictability over the building envelope.
Climate Control
Relatedly, closed windows allow hotels to deliver consistent climate-controlled environments. Guests expect reliable heating and cooling. With openable windows, temperatures could fluctuate and guests may be faced with uncomfortable rooms due to weather conditions or opening/closing windows at the wrong times. Sealed windows provide more climate stability and guest satisfaction.
Noise Control
Limiting open windows also allows hotels to minimize noise transfer between rooms and from outside the building. Sound can freely travel through open windows, whether from neighborhood noise, hotel equipment like HVAC systems, or other guests’ rooms.
With fixed windows, hotels can control noise using treatments like double glazing and enhanced wall/door soundproofing. These solutions are rendered less effective if windows are opened. Sealed windows allow hotels to deliver the quiet environments many guests seek.
Night Noise Restrictions
In urban areas, nighttime noise restrictions may also prevent hotels from allowing open windows. Outdoor noise at night may violate local noise ordinances and draw complaints or citations.[6] For instance, New York City’s Noise Code has rules limiting certain nighttime noise to 45 decibels and below from 10pm to 7am.[7] Hotels could have a hard time complying with such ordinances if windows were freely openable.
Event Noise
Similarly, hotels near event venues like concert halls and sports arenas may experience periodic noise surges that penetrate open windows and disturb guests. Maintaining sealed windows provides more consistent noise insulation.
Climate and Weather
The local climate also influences whether hotels allow windows to open. In certain weather conditions, open windows could actually make guests uncomfortable and raise operational costs.
Hot and Humid Climates
In hot, humid climates, opening windows may admit hot, muggy air and odors into guest rooms. Air conditioning is needed for comfort, and having windows open would undermine the controlled environment. Sealed windows limit humidity entering rooms.
Extreme Cold Climates
At the other extreme, leaving windows open during frigid winter temperatures could make rooms quite uncomfortable. The constant influx of cold air would require more energy usage for heating. Keeping windows closed better insulates rooms when outside conditions are harsh.
Costs for Temperature Control
Maintaining comfortable temperatures with changeable window conditions would also be operationally challenging and costly for hotels in very hot or cold climates. Preheating or precooling rooms before guest arrival could be rendered pointless if they then opened the windows, requiring more HVAC resources. Sealed windows provide more temperature control and cost efficiency.
Precipitation and Pests
Rain, snow, and even insects or other small pests are also deterrents to keeping hotel windows open. Guests likely won’t appreciate having precipitation, leaves, or bugs enter their rooms through open windows. And hotels wouldn’t want to deal with damages like wet carpets or linen. Sealed windows minimize hassles from the elements.
Housekeeping Difficulties
There are also some room cleaning and maintenance challenges posed by openable windows that hotels prefer to avoid.
Access for External Cleaning
Windows in multi-story hotels are cleaned from the outside, using harnesses, platforms, and lift equipment. Having openable sections in the glass would make thorough external washing more difficult and dangerous. Sealed windowpanes are simpler for external maintenance.
Unruly Curtains
Inside, housekeepers note that curtains around windows without locks can be more problematic. Breezes through open windows often tangle curtain fabric and make making made beds look unsightly. Sealed windows provide tidier, easier-to-clean rooms.
Maintenance Issues
There are also potential maintenance issues with windows that open. The moving parts of window sashes and latches can break over time from guest use and require repair. Sealed windows only involve fixed-pane installations and reduce maintenance needs.
Air Quality
Air quality considerations may also support keeping hotel room windows closed. While the idea of fresh, natural air from outside is appealing, potential concerns include:
Pollen, Pollution, and Odors
Open windows let in allergenic pollen, urban pollution like vehicle exhaust, and odors from dumpsters, sewers, or industrial activity nearby. Guests with allergies or sensitivities may react poorly. Sealed windows provide healthier indoor air.
Smoking Outside
Likewise, even if the hotel is smoke-free, opened windows could allow drifting tobacco smoke inside and bother nonsmoking guests. Shut windows prevent such exposures.
Dust and Debris
Open windows also mean more dust, leaves, insects, and general debris enter the hotel, dirtying rooms. Sealed windows result in cleaner indoor environments.
HVAC Air Filters
Finally, hotel HVAC systems have air filters that screen out many indoor pollutants and allergens before supplying rooms with conditioned air. Letting unfiltered air in from outside bypasses this benefit – another reason to keep windows closed.
Guest Control and Consistency
Aside from the core technical and operational factors above, limiting openable windows also provides benefits in terms of guest room consistency and ease of control.
Consistent Guest Experience
With sealed windows, hotels can ensure a more consistent experience across all rooms. Guests know what to expect in terms of climate, noise, views, etc., unaffected by changeable window conditions. Standardizing the windows creates dependable guest comfort.
Room Control
In addition, fixed windows allow hotel staff to maintain full control over the room environment. They can be confident setting appropriate temperature, sound, lighting, and other settings without unpredictable guest adjustments through open windows interfering. More control facilitates better service.
Less Guest Disturbance
Sealed windows also prevent guests from inadvertently creating disturbances, like noise or smoke wafting between rooms due to opened windows. More separation facilitates privacy and fewer neighbor complaints.
Tamper-Proof
Finally, permanently closed windows mean guests cannot tamper with window locks or openings. There is no need for room checks between guests to verify window security. Tamper-resistant windows support a smoother hotel operation.
Appearance and Views
A hotel’s aesthetics and views are two final considerations favoring fixed windows in many cases.
External Appearance
Architecturally, sealed windows with fixed glass panes provide a more uniform, elegant exterior appearance in many hotel designs. Openable windows and hardware can look more visually disjointed on the building facade. Sleek, modern hotels tend to emphasize expansive, unbroken glass.
Window Washing Equipment
Likewise, window washing equipment is more hidden without openable sections breaking up the exterior glass. This creates a cleaner look.
Room Views
Inside, fixed glass also allows for larger, unobstructed window views from guest rooms in many cases. Large panes can provide broader vistas, unbroken by smaller openable sections. Floor-to-ceiling glass affords maximized viewing and light.
Interior Appearance
In addition, sealed windows avoid some interior clutter that comes with opening mechanisms. Cleaner lines and furnishings against glass can be designed without accommodating window latches, locks, and similar hardware.
Conclusion
In summary, most hotels do not offer guest rooms with openable windows due to a variety of factors related to safety, energy use, noise, climate control, maintenance, and aesthetics. While the ability to open a window might seem like an attractive perk, hotels have many technical, operational, and business reasons favoring permanently sealed windows to create secure, efficient, comfortable, and consistent guest environments. The benefits tend to outweigh the appeal of fresh air from outside. Of course, alternatives like opening doors to balconies or patios may provide guests some access to the outdoors from their rooms when suitable. But overall, fixed, closed windows remain standard in the majority of modern hotel designs.
References
- [1] Singh, Shruti. “Why Don’t Hotels Provide Windows That Open?” Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2018, www.cntraveler.com/story/why-dont-hotels-provide-windows-that-open.
- [2] Frisch, C.H. “Don’t Open That Window.” Homeland Security Today, 28 Jan. 2020, www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/infrastructure-security/perspective-dont-open-that-window/.
- [3] Darnley, William. “When Is a Hotel Liable for Room Injuries?” Legal Scoops, 6 Nov. 2019, www.legalscoops.com/when-is-a-hotel-liable-for-room-injuries/.
- [4] “Infiltration.” ASHRAE Handbook – Fundamentals (SI), 2017, www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/ashrae-handbook/description-of-the-2017-ashrae-handbook-fundamentals.
- [5] Williams, Aisling. “How Do Hotels Meet LEED and ENERGY STAR Requirements for Air Infiltration?” Greenview, 12 May 2021, www.greenview.com/resources/blog/air-infiltration-leed-energy-star/.
- [6] Lufkin, Bryan. “Why Don’t More Big City Hotels Allow You to Open a Window?” BBC Travel, 11 Sept. 2019, www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190826-why-dont-more-big-city-hotels-allow-you-to-open-a-window.
- [7] “Noise Code.” Rules of the City of New York, New York City Environmental Protection, 1 July 2021, www.nyc.gov/assets/dep/downloads/pdf/air/noise-code-revision-effective-july-1-2021.pdf.