I've written about shipping containers being used as homes, and set up as temporary disaster relief shelters. Someone's found another way to use them - as 'instant hotels'! PSFK reports:
Snoozebox offers transportable and temporary hotel rooms made out of shipping containers, which can be constructed or taken down in just three days, stacked in tight spaces, and are ideal for events and festivals. Available in flexible configurations from 40 to 400 rooms, they are self-contained with no need for flat terrain or to be a near a gas/electricity source as Snoozebox provides power, water and waste extraction.
The containers are furnished to a high standard and include a double bed with a memory foam mattress, air conditioning and heating, flat screen digital TV, power sockets, free wi-fi, and spacious storage units. There is also an ensuite wet room featuring quality fittings, with towels and premium toiletries supplied and serviced by staff.
There's more at the link, and at Snoozebox's Web site.
I'm in two minds about this project. It's undoubtedly very creative, particularly having all services (electricity, plumbing, etc.) self-contained and not relying on on-site infrastructure. On the other hand, could one charge a high enough rate for a 'container room' to cover the costs of getting them to the site, setting them up, connecting everything, using them, then breaking everything down and removing them again? I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay a premium for such a room when I can pitch a tent or bring a small travel trailer to the site. Still, there may be enough customers to make it financially worthwhile.
Peter
3 comments:
The offshore industry has used similar containers as temporary housing for years. Offshore or in remote areas, they can be set up quickly.
Austin, TX is getting a new Formula 1 racetrack. Around race days, hotels are up to $500/day even for cheap hotels like Best Western. If these could be done profitably at $400/night, I'm sure there would be a market.
A temporary hotel is kind of a neat use, but a much bigger use would be disaster recovery. Imagine being able to set up hundreds or thousands of available rooms within three days of something like Hurricane Katrina, or the next big earthquake, or what-have-you.
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