Let's be honest: not every hotel has just renovated its rooms. Many independent three-star properties have twenty-year-old furniture, salmon-pink bathroom tiles and a renovation postponed season after season, because costs are high and margins thin.
The temptation is to hide the problem: old, retouched photos, wide angles, vague descriptions. But that's the fastest route to negative reviews. Let's look at how to present a hotel with dated rooms honestly and effectively.
The real enemy isn't the old room. It's the surprise.
Guests don't get angry because a room is simple. They get angry because it's different from what they saw in the photos or imagined. The harshest reviews almost always come from broken expectations, not the product itself.
Guests who book knowing they'll find "a simple, spotless room with 90s furniture, but 30 metres from the sea and with a breakfast to remember" arrive prepared. And they often leave happy.
1. Shift attention to what really works
Every hotel has strengths that don't depend on furnishings:
- location (near the sea, the centre, the trade fair, the slopes);
- cleanliness, which matters more than style;
- hospitality and people;
- breakfast or the kitchen;
- practical services: parking, bikes, partner beach;
- value for money.
Put them at the centre of your communication: homepage headline, first photos, OTA description.
2. Real photos, done well
Real photos don't mean bad photos. A good photographer can enhance a simple room with natural light, a well-made bed, tidiness and honest framing. Avoid extreme wide angles and edits that change colours and dimensions. See which photos a three-star hotel website needs.
3. Honest, precise descriptions
Size in square metres, bed type, shower or bath, air conditioning yes or no, view. And one sentence that manages expectations:
"Our Classic rooms are simple and no-frills, with traditional furnishings. They're chosen by guests who spend their days at the beach and want a clean, quiet base just steps from the sand."
4. Small fixes, big difference
You don't need to renovate everything to improve perception. Low-cost improvements:
- new quality linen and a choice of pillows;
- mattresses (sleep is what guests remember most);
- warm lighting and reading lamps;
- blackout curtains;
- USB sockets by the bed;
- fast Wi-Fi;
- a touch of colour: headboards, pictures, textiles.
5. Separate room types (and prices)
If some rooms are renovated and others aren't, create distinct room types with different names and prices: "Classic" and "Renovated Comfort". Guests choose knowingly, and those who want the new room pay more.
6. Reply to reviews transparently
If a guest writes that rooms are dated, don't deny it. Thank them, acknowledge it, explain what you're doing and remind readers of your strengths:
"Thank you for your honesty. Our Classic rooms have traditional furnishings, and we're renovating one floor at a time: this winter it's the second floor's turn. We're glad you enjoyed the breakfast and location."
See negative hotel reviews: how to reply without making things worse.
7. Set a consistent price
A hotel with dated rooms charging the price of a newly renovated one will get harsh reviews. But you don't need to sell yourself short: you need a price consistent with your overall value, location and services included.
Frequently asked questions
Should I say the rooms are dated?
You don't need that word, but your description and photos should let guests understand what they'll find. "Simple", "traditional furnishings", "essential" are honest terms.
Should I renovate before investing in marketing?
If renovation is close, plan your marketing around it. If it's far off, focus on honest marketing and small improvements.
Do dated rooms lower my Booking.com score?
They can weigh on "comfort" and "facilities" scores. But cleanliness, staff and location can compensate, especially when expectations are managed well.
Want to present your hotel the right way?
With our free marketing audit we analyse how your hotel presents itself online and help you showcase your real strengths while managing expectations well.
