Certified Facility Manager (CFM) Practice Exam

What type of guestroom layout typically maximizes both space and sales?

1. Single-loaded slab

2. Double-loaded slab

3. Open concept

4. Extended stay

The correct answer is: Double-loaded slab

The double-loaded slab layout is recognized for maximizing both space and sales in hotel design. This configuration involves a corridor with guestrooms on both sides, allowing for more rooms to be built within a given footprint. By efficiently utilizing the available space, it increases the total number of rooms, which can lead to higher occupancy rates and revenue generation. This design is particularly advantageous in urban environments where land is limited and expensive. Furthermore, the double-loaded slab layout often facilitates better management and servicing of rooms, enhancing operational efficiency. With rooms easily accessible from a central corridor, housekeeping and maintenance can swiftly move between rooms, improving service response times and overall guest satisfaction. In contrast, options like single-loaded slabs or open-concept designs might limit the number of rooms per floor, potentially reducing revenue. Extended stay layouts typically focus on longer-term accommodations and may not be as efficient for maximizing short-term sales compared to the double-loaded layout. Hence, the double-loaded slab stands out as the ideal choice for a balance of spatial efficiency and commercial effectiveness.