What does "No Vacancy" Mean?
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
The presence of a "no vacancy" sign is a means of indicating to people in the immediate area that the building or edifice bearing the sign has reached its capacity and does not have any additional room for people or any type of storage needs. Most commonly, such a sign is seen on the exterior of motels and hotels, but other establishments sometimes make use of this type of sign, including storage facilities and boarding houses.
The main purpose of a sign bearing the message of “no vacancy” is to prevent people from entering the premises and inquiring about the availability of space for rent or lease. From this perspective, the sign helps to minimize the time spent by people who need space for some reason as well as employees who have other tasks to manage other than informing visitors that there is no space available at the present time.
In times past, a motel "no vacancy" sign was most often displayed near the office of the motel, allowing anyone who stopped to rent a room to quickly determine there were no rooms available. Over time, the simple placard near the office door was replaced with larger neon signs that could easily be seen from the roadway. When rooms were unoccupied and available for renting, the sign was shut off, but if all the available rooms were taken, the sign was turned on to alert motorists that there was no reason to stop and look for lodgings.
Even higher end hotel chains sometimes make use of these signs. They are normally more discreet, sometimes placed near the entrance to the hotel or at the reception desk. There are older hotels that sometimes have a modest electronic sign placed at street level as well, however. These signs are often more subdued than the neon versions used by hotels and is often at eye level or slightly higher, making it easy for pedestrians to identify which hotels have rooms available and which do not.
Boarding houses are another venue in which these signs are commonly employed. Establishments of this type normally have a simple removable sign that can be placed by the main door or in a window facing the street. When rooms are available for lease, the proprietor simply removes the sign from public view, returning it to the window or position by the door only when all the rooms in the boarding house are claimed.
Malcolm Tatum
After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including LanguageHumanities, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.
Malcolm Tatum
After many years in the teleconferencing industry, Michael decided to embrace his passion for trivia, research, and writing by becoming a full-time freelance writer. Since then, he has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including LanguageHumanities, and his work has also appeared in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and several newspapers. Malcolm’s other interests include collecting vinyl records, minor league baseball, and cycling.
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
-
![No-vacancy signs, often seen at motels, alert prospective guests to the lack of available lodging.]()
By: Owen MatherNo-vacancy signs, often seen at motels, alert prospective guests to the lack of available lodging. -
!["No vacancy" often means that every room in a hotel has been claimed for the night.]()
By: chungking"No vacancy" often means that every room in a hotel has been claimed for the night.
Discussion Comments
I hate it when I see no vacancy displays at every hotel I drive by. It happens all the time in Chicago.
@burcinc-- I think what happens is that some rooms are reserved and will be occupied the next day. So they usually keep those rooms unoccupied until the customers arrive.
In some situations, for example, if someone only needs a room for the night and will vacate first thing in the morning, they may allow them to stay. I'm guessing that's what happened in your case.
I'm certain that if a hotel puts a "no vacancy" sign, there really are no rooms left. A hotel, after all, is a business establishment. Why would they turn back customers if they have rooms available?
When a hotel places a "no vacancy" sign, are there really no rooms left?
I feel like some hotels do this when there are only one or two hotel rooms left. I don't know why they do that though.
My brother and I once went hiking and got lost. We came across a small hotel with a "no vacancy" sign. We went inside anyway and insisted that they give us a room since we had no camping equipment and couldn't sleep outside.
After ten-fifteen minutes of discussion, they finally agreed and gave us a room.
@Latte31 -I have to say that you are right. I noticed that hotels will have a lot of specials during the summer months but they raise the price substantially in the winter.
I have run into a few no vacancy signs myself, so I guess you do have to plan ahead if you are traveling during peak season.
I live in a beach community part of the year, and I know that during the peak winter months there are a lot of no vacancy signs all over the beach motels. Most people that spend the winter in Florida usually book their vacation at least a year in advance which is why the vacancy rate is so low.
For example, I already have my condo rented out for next winter and have a waiting list of other people that want to rent it. I only rent it during the winter and enjoy it the rest of the year. The rental income pays most of my expenses, so it works out great.
Post your comments