Motorized vs manual tracks: what choice for your hotel project?

Reading time 7 min — Updated April 2026

The motorization of curtains has become a central topic in contemporary hospitality — but it is often approached in a one-size-fits-all manner: "we motorize everything" or "we motorize nothing." This polarization leads to either excessive spending on spaces that do not need it or degraded customer experiences in spaces where motorization would be essential.

This article offers a reasoned decision grid to arbitrate, room by room and standard by standard, between manual curtains and motorized curtains for a hotel project. Updated 2026 budgets, feedback, and technical selection criteria.

1. The 4 levels of motorization available in 2026

Level 0 — Manual track with carriers

No motor. Manipulation by pulling a side cord or by handle on the curtain. Historical standard, still predominant in 3★ hotels. Track budget: €40-80 excluding tax per meter depending on quality.

Level 1 — Basic wired motor 24V

Internal motor in the track, wired (dedicated cable), controlled by wall switch. Noise 40-50 dB — audible in the room. Budget: €180-280 excluding tax per meter for motorized track. Entry-level that provides ease of handling without sophistication.

Level 2 — Silent radio motor (IO, Zigbee, Z-Wave)

Wireless radio motor (remote control or smartphone app), silent (≤ 35 dB), gradual start. Reference brands: Somfy Sonesse ULTRA 50, Forest, Simu, Geiger. Budget: 450-680 € excluding tax per meter of motorized rail. 4★ standard today.

Level 3 — KNX / DALI / BMS home automation integration

Radio motor + building gateway, control via room tablet, scenarios (wake-up, cinema, bedtime), status feedback to the building management system. Budget: 680-950 € excluding tax per meter of integrated motorized rail + 200-500 € excluding tax per programmed scenario. 5★ standard and palaces.

2. The 5 decision criteria room by room

Criterion 1 — Height and width of the curtain

Pragmatic rule:

• Height < 2.40 m and width < 2.50 m: manual operation possible
• Height 2.40-3.00 m or width 2.50-3.50 m: motorization recommended for comfort
• Height > 3.00 m or width > 3.50 m: motorization almost mandatory (weight, accessibility)

Beyond 4 m in height (halls, high-ceiling restaurants), motorization is indisputable: a manual curtain would require a ladder to be operated.

Criterion 2 — Frequency of use

A curtain operated 2 times a day (opening in the morning / closing in the evening in a room) can tolerate manual operation. A curtain operated 10 times a day (meeting room, multi-purpose ballroom) justifies motorization to preserve the fabric and facilitate use.

Criterion 3 — Intended use and standing

• 3★ economy: manual everywhere, except for technical exceptions
• 3★ premium / 4★ standard: manual in standard rooms, motorized in suites and meeting rooms
• 4★ high-end: motorized in superior rooms and suites, manual acceptable in standard rooms
• 5★ / Palace: motorized everywhere, with home automation integration in suites

The threshold is not technical but based on customer experience: a customer paying 250+ €/night has integrated motorization as expected, not as a 'bonus'.

Criterion 4 — Integration into the building

In a new building equipped with BMS / KNX / DALI, curtain motorization logically connects to the existing infrastructure — the additional cost is then marginal. In an old building without pre-wiring, motorization requires a dedicated electrical lot (wiring room by room), which can add 40-80% to the initial cost.

Criterion 5 — Overall budget and trade-offs

In a constrained project, motorization can be phased: equip all suites + premium rooms in wave 1, gradually add standard rooms in the following years. Provided that the building wiring is anticipated to avoid having to redo the chases later.

3. Differential budget: motorized vs manual

For a typical hotel room (2 windows, 2 curtains + 2 sheers):

Configuration	Cost of rail + installation	Additional cost of motorization
Manual with carts	240-420 € excl. VAT / room	—
Wired motorized 24V	680-980 € excl. VAT / room	+440-560 € excluding tax
Silent radio motorized	1,450-1,890 € excluding tax / room	+1,210-1,470 € excluding tax
Integrated home automation motorized	1,980-2,750 € excluding tax / room	+1,740-2,330 € excluding tax

For a 100-room hotel, the choice of radio motorization vs. manual represents an overall additional cost of around 120-150 k€ excluding tax. This figure should be related to the total FF&E budget and positioning strategy.

4. ROI and commercial impact of motorization

Direct ROI (measurable savings)

Low to none in current operation. The motor does not generate significant energy savings compared to a well-used manual curtain.

Indirect ROI (customer perception, OTA rating)

Significant in 4★/5★ hospitality. TripAdvisor feedback explicitly mentions motorization as a positive point in 12-18% of reviews in 5★ hotels. In a high-end establishment, an improved average TripAdvisor rating of 0.2 points can increase the ADR by 4-7% — which pays off the motorization in 24-36 months.

Differentiated ROI (upsell to higher category)

A room "with motorized curtains" presented in the direct channel justifies an additional charge of 20-40 €/night. In a hotel with an 80% occupancy rate, 10 motorized rooms vs. standard represent an additional turnover of 55-110 k€ excluding tax per year.

5. The 6 classic pitfalls of motorization

1. Choosing a noisy motor in the room: 45 dB at night is the sound of light continuous rain. Require ≤ 32 dB in the room and critical meeting room.
2. Not pre-wiring in new builds: systematically plan for electrical reservations in new construction, even if the motorization is only selected in wave 2.
3. Neglecting home automation interoperability: a Somfy motor cannot be controlled with a Simu remote. Standardize on a protocol (IO, Zigbee, KNX) for the entire building.
4. Underestimating after-sales service: a motor can fail after 5-10 years. Check the availability of spare parts and response time before purchasing.
5. Forgetting the manual emergency control: in case of motor failure or power outage, a curtain must be able to open/close manually. Verify this function in the technical sheet.
6. Neglecting control ergonomics: a remote control lost by the client is a degraded experience. Prefer the integration of a room tablet or a well-placed wall switch.

6. Case study — 4★ Hotel 80 rooms

Typical recommendation for a contemporary 4★ hotel with 80 rooms:

• 60 standard rooms: silent radio motorization (42,000 € excluding tax total additional cost vs. manual)
• 15 superior rooms: silent radio motorization with designer remote (11,000 € excluding tax additional cost)
• 5 suites: integrated KNX home automation motorization, room tablet, scenarios (15,000 € excluding tax additional cost)
• 3 meeting rooms: radio motorization with programmable wall control (6,000 € excluding tax additional cost)
• Lobby, restaurant: radio motorization for high ceilings (18,000 € excluding tax additional cost)

Total additional cost for motorization:≈ 92,000 € excluding taxon a global textile project of about €210,000 excluding tax (approximately 45% of the textile budget). Typically amortized over 30-42 months through ADR improvement and OTA rating.

FAQ — Hotel curtain motorization

Can motorization be added later to existing tracks?

Rarely. Manual tracks are not mechanically designed to accommodate a motor. In 85% of cases, the entire track + motor needs to be replaced. The budget to be planned is comparable to a new installation, without the savings from the track.

What is the lifespan of a hotel curtain motor?

Wired 24V motor: 8-12 years. High-end silent radio motor: 12-18 years. Maintenance is limited to lubrication every 5-7 years and replacing remote control batteries.

Are Wi-Fi motors recommended in hotels?

Not for consumer Wi-Fi (Google Home, Alexa). In professional hospitality, prefer dedicated protocols (IO Homecontrol, KNX, Zigbee) for stability, security, and integration with building management systems.

What maintenance budget should be planned per year?

About 1 to 1.5% of the initial cost in annual maintenance (motor checks, lubrication, remote control battery replacement, reprogramming scenarios). An annual maintenance contract should be considered for more than 50 motorized tracks.

Does motorization consume a lot of energy?

No. A curtain motor consumes 30-50 W in operation and less than 0.5 W in standby. With 2 opening/closing cycles per day, the annual consumption per curtain is around 0.5 kWh — negligible.

In summary

The choice between motorized and manual tracks is made piece by piece, based on 5 criteria:curtain dimensions, frequency of use, establishment standing, integration into the existing building, and available budget. In 2026, market standards are clear: acceptable manual in 3★ economy, recommended silent radio motorization in 4★, integrated home automation motorization in 5★ / palace.

The additional cost of motorization per 4★ hotel room is €1,200-€1,500 excluding tax vs. manual — recouped in 30-42 months through the impact on ADR, OTA rating, and upsell. The golden rule: pre-wire in new builds even if motorization is not planned in wave 1; the costs of adding later are 3 to 5 times higher.