Is room 113 considered unlucky in hotels?

Room 113 generally doesn't carry the same level of superstition as notorious room numbers like 666 or 1313. However, in some cultures, it may be considered unlucky due to its proximity to 13 or because it contains the number 13 when added together (1+1+3=5). In Asian cultures, particularly Chinese, the number 1 is lucky, but 3 can be unlucky in some contexts. The perception varies widely by culture and individual belief. Most hotels don't specifically avoid numbering room 113, though some upscale establishments may skip potentially problematic numbers altogether.

Why do some hotels skip certain room numbers like 113?

Hotels may skip certain room numbers, including potentially 113, for several reasons: 1) Avoiding numbers considered unlucky in specific cultures (like 4 in East Asian cultures or 13 in Western cultures); 2) Converting those rooms to utility spaces, storage, or staff areas; 3) Combining adjacent rooms to create larger suites; 4) Allowing for non-sequential numbering systems that improve wayfinding; 5) Marketing considerations, as some hotels use premium numbering for upscale rooms or create artificial scarcity by omitting certain numbers. Many hotels also have their own internal number systems not visible to guests.

What is the typical location of room 113 in hotels?

Room 113 is typically located on the first floor of a hotel, as the first digit in standard hotel numbering systems usually indicates the floor. In hotels using this conventional system, room 113 would be the 13th room on the first floor. Its exact location depends on the hotel's layout and numbering pattern, but it's often found toward the middle or end of a corridor. In some hotels, especially in North America, room 113 might be on what internationals would consider the second floor, as the ground floor is often labeled as the lobby or floor 1, making the next level up floor 1 in the numbering system.

Room 113: Hotel Facts, Superstitions, and Cultural Significance

Hotel Room Numbering Systems and Room 113

To understand the significance of room 113, it's important to first understand how hotels typically number their rooms:

Standard Hotel Room Numbering Conventions

Most hotels use a logical numbering system that helps guests locate their rooms easily:

First Digit(s): Usually indicates the floor number (e.g., rooms starting with "1" are on the first floor)
Remaining Digits: Typically indicate the room's position on that floor
Even/Odd Distribution: Many hotels place even-numbered rooms on one side of a corridor and odd-numbered on the other
Sequential Ordering: Rooms are generally numbered sequentially along corridors

Based on these conventions, room 113 would typically be:

Located on the first floor (or second floor in North American conventions where the ground floor is labeled as lobby/floor 1)
The 13th room on that floor, or in the vicinity of the 13th position
Often on the odd-numbered side of a corridor

Variations and Exceptions for Room 113

Hotels may handle room 113 differently for various reasons:

Standard Treatment

Numbered exactly as 113, following the standard sequence
No special significance assigned to it
Treated like any other room on the first floor

Modified Treatment

Renumbered to avoid potential superstitions (e.g., as 114 or 112A)
Used for non-guest purposes (storage, staff area, utility room)
Combined with an adjacent room to create a larger suite

Some hotels, particularly in East Asia, may skip or modify room numbers containing "4" (which sounds like "death" in several Asian languages) more frequently than those containing "13" or "113".

Cultural Perceptions and Superstitions About Room 113

The perception of room 113 varies widely across different cultures and belief systems:

Western Perspectives

Connection to 13: In Western cultures, the primary superstition around room 113 stems from its inclusion of "13" as the last two digits and its status as potentially the 13th room on the floor
Numerology: In numerological interpretations, 113 reduces to 5 (1+1+3=5), which is generally considered a positive number associated with change and freedom
Perceived Luck: Less stigmatized than room 13 or 1313, but may inherit some of the superstitions associated with the number 13

Eastern and Asian Perspectives

Chinese Interpretation: In Chinese culture, 1 is considered lucky ("yao"), representing unity and beginning. However, 3 has mixed connotations
Cantonese Considerations: In Cantonese, 1 and 3 together can sound similar to phrases meaning "guaranteed life" or "definite growth," which could be considered positive
Japanese View: In Japan, 1 is neutral, while 3 is generally considered lucky
Korean Perspective: In Korean culture, 3 is often a positive number, making 113 less likely to carry negative associations

Comparison with Other "Unlucky" Room Numbers

Room Number	Level of Superstition	Common in Hotels?	Cultural Origin
Room 13	High	Frequently skipped	Western (Christian)
Room 666	Very High	Often avoided	Western (Biblical)
Room 444	High in Asia	Often skipped in Asian hotels	East Asian
Room 113	Low to Moderate	Usually included	Mixed/Various
Room 1408	Moderate (pop culture)	Usually included	Western (Fiction)

Note: Room 1408 gained notoriety from Stephen King's short story and subsequent film adaptation.

Hotel Industry Practices Regarding Room 113

The hotel industry has developed various practices and policies regarding potentially superstitious room numbers, including room 113:

Common Approaches to Room 113

Standard Inclusion: The majority of hotels include room 113 in their normal numbering sequence
Subtle Modifications: Some hotels may renumber it (e.g., as 112A or 114) without drawing attention to the change
Regional Variations: Hotels in regions with specific number superstitions may be more likely to modify room 113 if it contains locally significant unlucky digits
Luxury Accommodations: High-end hotels are more likely to accommodate superstitions by avoiding potentially problematic room numbers entirely

Guest Requests and Room 113

Hotels have varying policies for handling guest concerns about room numbers:

Accommodation Policies: Most hotels will accommodate guests who specifically request not to stay in room 113 or other specific room numbers, subject to availability
Frequency of Requests: Requests to avoid room 113 are much less common than requests to avoid rooms with "13" or "666"
Staff Training: Hotel staff are typically trained to handle superstition-based room change requests discreetly and without judgment
Booking Systems: Some hotel management systems allow for flagging certain rooms to avoid assigning them to guests from cultures with specific number superstitions

Occupancy and Pricing Effects

Research on the economic impact of room number superstitions has shown interesting patterns:

Occupancy Differences: Room 113 typically doesn't show significantly lower occupancy rates compared to adjacent rooms in most markets
Pricing Considerations: Unlike rooms with "13" in certain markets, room 113 rarely commands lower rates due to its number
Regional Variations: In strongly superstitious markets, particularly in East Asia, room 113 might show minor occupancy effects if it contains locally unlucky numbers
Gaming Destinations: In casino hotels, particularly in Las Vegas and Macau, lucky and unlucky numbers can have more pronounced effects on guest preferences

Notable Room 113s in Hotels Around the World

While room 113 doesn't have the same notoriety as some other room numbers, there are some interesting examples from hotels around the world:

Famous or Unique Room 113s

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado

While room 217 of this hotel is famous for inspiring Stephen King's "The Shining," room 113 has its own reputation among staff for occasional unexplained occurrences, though with much less notoriety than other rooms in this famously "haunted" hotel.

Hotel del Coronado, California

This historic hotel, known for its Victorian architecture and ghostly legends, has a room 113 that isn't specifically associated with paranormal activity, creating an interesting contrast with some of the hotel's more infamous room numbers.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Canada

In this historic mountain resort, room 113 is overshadowed by the hotel's more famous room 873, which was allegedly permanently sealed off after a family tragedy. Room 113 serves as an interesting example of how some room numbers develop legends while others do not, even in hotels with rich folklore traditions.

Room 113 in Luxury Properties

In some high-end hotels, room 113 may be given special treatment or design:

Boutique Rebranding: Some boutique hotels rename all their rooms with characters, colors, or themes instead of numbers, effectively eliminating any superstition around 113
Design Differentiation: In certain design hotels, room 113 might receive unique décor elements to create distinctiveness
Suite Conversion: Some properties convert potentially problematic room numbers into suites or special-purpose rooms

Number 113 in Hospitality Beyond Room Numbers

The number 113 appears in the hospitality industry in contexts beyond just room numbering:

Alternative Uses of 113 in Hotels and Hospitality

Service Extensions: In some hotels, dialing "113" on room phones might connect to specific services like housekeeping or concierge
Emergency Codes: Some hotel staff systems use "113" as an internal code for specific situations or emergencies
Room Rates: A rate of $113 might be used as a marketing price point in certain promotions or special offers
Hotel Addresses: Some hotels are located at address number 113 on their respective streets
Loyalty Programs: "Room 113 Club" or similar names might be used for hotel loyalty tiers or exclusive membership groups

The Number 113 in Hospitality Protocols

Some hotels and hospitality organizations have specific protocols or traditions involving the number 113:

Training Materials: Chapter or section 113 in staff training manuals might cover specific service standards
Quality Standards: Some hotel inspection systems use a 113-point checklist for certain room types or service levels
Industry Metrics: In some regional markets, $113 might represent a significant revenue per available room (RevPAR) benchmark

Psychological Aspects of Room Number Perception

The way guests perceive room numbers like 113 has interesting psychological dimensions:

Cognitive Biases and Room Numbers

Confirmation Bias: Guests who believe room 113 might be unlucky may notice and remember any negative experiences more vividly
Priming Effect: Awareness of potential superstitions can influence perception of experiences in that room
Availability Heuristic: Stories about "unlucky" rooms are more memorable, making them seem more common than they actually are
Expectancy Effects: Guests expecting unusual experiences in certain room numbers may interpret normal hotel noises or occurrences as significant

Impact on Guest Experience

Hotel room numbers can influence the overall guest experience in subtle ways:

Initial Impressions: Room number is one of the first pieces of information guests receive about their specific accommodation
Memory Formation: Distinctive or meaningful room numbers are more easily remembered and associated with the stay experience
Story Value: Staying in a room with cultural or superstitious associations provides conversational material for guests
Personalization Perceptions: Guests who receive room numbers they consider lucky may feel more positive about the hotel's service

Alternatives and Innovations in Room Numbering

Some hotels have developed creative alternatives to traditional numbering systems that avoid potential issues with numbers like 113:

Alternative Numbering Systems

Themed Naming: Using names instead of numbers (e.g., flower names, bird species, local landmarks)
Color Coding: Identifying rooms by color designations along with or instead of numbers
Letter-Based Systems: Using letters or letter-number combinations that avoid problematic digits
Floor-Independent Numbering: Using a continuous numbering system regardless of floor

Digital Age Solutions

Modern technology is changing how hotels identify and assign rooms:

Mobile Check-in: Some hotels now allow guests to bypass room numbers entirely by using smartphones as room keys
Temporary Numbering: Dynamic digital displays can show personalized room identifiers for each guest
Guest Preference Systems: Advanced booking systems can automatically avoid assigning certain room numbers to guests from specific cultural backgrounds
Augmented Reality: Some cutting-edge properties are experimenting with AR wayfinding that doesn't rely on traditional room numbers

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request not to stay in room 113 when booking a hotel?

Yes, most hotels will accommodate requests to avoid specific room numbers, including room 113. The best approach is to make this request at the time of booking by adding a note to your reservation, then following up during check-in. Keep in mind that such requests are typically fulfilled on a space-available basis, and during periods of high occupancy, the hotel may have limited flexibility. Unlike more commonly avoided numbers like 13 or 666, requests to avoid room 113 specifically are relatively uncommon, so hotels are less likely to have protocols specifically for this room number.

Is room 113 typically cheaper or more expensive than other rooms?

In most hotels, room 113 is priced the same as other similar rooms in its category. Unlike rooms with the number 13 (which studies have shown can sometimes be priced lower in certain markets due to lower demand), room 113 generally doesn't carry enough superstitious weight to affect pricing. Rate differences are much more likely to be based on factors like view, amenities, size, floor level, and proximity to elevators or ice machines than on the specific number 113. If you notice a price difference for room 113, it's more likely due to these physical attributes than to the room number itself.

Are there any positive associations with hotel room 113?

Yes, room 113 can have positive associations in several contexts. In numerology, 113 reduces to 5 (1+1+3=5), which is often associated with freedom, change, and adventure - fitting qualities for a hotel stay. In Chinese culture, the number 1 is considered lucky, representing unity and new beginnings. For some individuals, 113 might have personal significance, such as a birthday (January 13th or November 3rd), anniversary, or other meaningful date. Additionally, some guests simply enjoy having a room number that isn't commonly requested, potentially resulting in a quieter location or better placement within the hotel.

Do hotels track statistics about room 113 occupancy or guest satisfaction?

Most large hotel chains and properties using modern property management systems do track occupancy rates and guest satisfaction scores for all rooms, including room 113. This data allows them to identify any rooms that consistently underperform in terms of guest satisfaction or revenue generation. However, room 113 rarely stands out in these metrics compared to more notoriously avoided room numbers. Hotel revenue managers and operations teams typically focus on addressing issues with rooms that show consistent problems, regardless of their number. If a specific room 113 does show lower performance metrics, hotels would investigate physical factors like noise, maintenance issues, or layout problems rather than assuming the number itself is the cause.

Has room 113 appeared in any famous movies, books, or urban legends?

Unlike more famous hotel room numbers like 237 (from "The Shining") or 1408 (from the Stephen King story), room 113 doesn't have a prominent place in popular culture or urban mythology. This relative absence from fiction and folklore may contribute to its lack of strong superstitious associations. While some local hotels may have specific stories about their individual room 113, there isn't a widespread cultural narrative about this particular room number. This contrasts with room 13 or room 666, which carry well-established cultural baggage regardless of the specific hotel. The lack of fictional representation means that guests entering room 113 are less likely to bring preconceived notions about the space compared to more notorious room numbers.

Room 113: Hotel Superstitions, Facts, and Cultural Significance