Hotel Architect Guide: Business & Upper Crust Guests

Business, Brat, and Upper Crust guests are where Hotel Architect stops rewarding “more rooms” and starts checking whether your hotel meets hard guest requirements.

If advanced guests are not showing up, do not start by building ten more bedrooms. First check the unlock stage, star rating, required facility, room eligibility, and service chain. For Upper Crust guests especially, the blocker is often not the bedroom. It is the 5-star rating and Spa requirement.

Fast Answer

Question	Answer
When do Business and Upper Crust guests start mattering?	Paris is the first campaign scenario where both become a major focus. Later maps can also support them.
Why are Business guests not showing up?	Business guests require a 3-star rating and a Conference Room before they will begin arriving reliably.
Why are Brats not showing up?	Brats require at least a 4-star rating and a Bar. Their rooms also need premium-quality basics and an exterior window.
Why are Upper Crust guests not showing up?	Upper Crust guests require a 5-star critic rating and a Spa zone. Luxury rooms alone will not bring them in.
Is Spa optional for Upper Crust?	No. Treat Spa as mandatory for Upper Crust progression, not just a nice luxury extra.
What should I check first?	Check whether the guest type is active in the scenario, then check star rating, required facility, and room eligibility.
Which guest types require exterior windows?	Business rooms do not require exterior windows, but Brat and Upper Crust rooms do.
What decorations matter for Upper Crust?	Use Premium and Masterpiece art / decoration for top Upper Crust ratings. Normal cheap decor is not enough for the best results.
Should every room become premium?	No. Keep budget rooms for basic guests and create separate room blocks for Business, Brat, and Upper Crust guests.

Requirement Summary

Use this table before spending money on advanced rooms.

Guest type	Rating gate	Required facility	Room value / room gate	Exterior window	Best stage to target
Sunbather	3 stars	Tanning / sunbathing amenity	12+ room size, $12,500+ room value, basic room items and bathroom basics	Required	Mid-game, especially on warm maps like Santorini.
Business	3 stars	Conference Room	12+ room size, $12,500+ room value, basic room items plus ironing board	Not required	Mid-game, once reviews and cash flow are stable.
Brat	4 stars	Bar	15+ room size, $21,500+ room value, Premium bed / wardrobe / case stand / bathroom basics	Required	Late mid-game, after bar service and premium room quality are ready.
Upper Crust	5 stars	Spa	30+ room size, $50,000+ room value, Luxurious bedroom and bathroom items	Required	Late-game, after the hotel can reach and maintain 5 stars.

The most important rule: Upper Crust guests are locked behind 5 stars and Spa. If you only build expensive bedrooms at 3 or 4 stars, they still will not arrive.

Scenario Unlock Path

Do not troubleshoot a guest type that your current scenario does not support yet.

Campaign stage	What to expect
Early scenarios	Focus on basic guests, Sporty guests, Sunbathers, Brats, and core hotel systems depending on the location.
Paris	Business and Upper Crust guests become a major focus. Business guests need work facilities; Upper Crust guests need luxury and Spa progression.
Later scenarios	Advanced guests can return, but you still need to check the scenario’s available guest list and room eligibility panel.

Paris matters because it teaches the split between “business convenience” and “luxury prestige.” Business guests are a step up from basic hotel design. Upper Crust guests are the true 5-star check.

Do Not Treat Advanced Guests Like Beginner Guests

Backpackers and Sporty guests teach you the basics: usable rooms, clean service, simple activities, and enough staff.

Advanced guests test the whole hotel.

Layer	Sunbather	Business	Brat	Upper Crust
Rating gate	3 stars	3 stars	4 stars	5 stars
Required facility	Tanning amenity	Conference Room	Bar	Spa
Room quality	Mid-tier vacation room	Better than basic rooms	Premium room basics	Luxurious rooms
Exterior window	Required	Not required	Required	Required
Food / drink	Vacation comfort and light refreshments	Steak or lobster bisque are strong; coffee helps	Oysters are the best food target; bar drink setup matters	Lobster bisque is the top luxury food target
Decoration	Bright, attractive leisure rooms	Clean, professional, comfortable	Attractive and fun	Premium / Masterpiece decor matters most

Step 1: Confirm the Guest Type Is Active

Before redesigning your hotel, confirm that the target guest type can actually appear in the current scenario.

Use this order:

1. Open the scenario or guest information.
2. Confirm the target guest type is available.
3. Check your current star rating.
4. Check whether the required facility exists.
5. Select the room and read the guest-type eligibility panel.

Do not guess. The room panel and scenario guest list are better than intuition.

Step 2: Use the Room Eligibility Panel

If a guest type is marked unavailable, look for the reason. In later scenarios, advanced rooms may be blocked by missing items such as a minibar, ironing board, vanity, toilet / bathroom feature, or exterior window.

Use this checklist.

Room check	Why it matters
Required bedroom items	Bed, wardrobe, luggage rack, and proper bedroom zoning still matter.
Bathroom access	Advanced rooms should not rely on awkward or low-quality bathroom setups.
Minibar	Important for premium convenience and higher-tier room expectations.
Ironing board	Especially useful for business-style rooms.
Vanity	Strong fit for Upper Crust-style premium bedrooms.
Better bed	Cheap beds may work for budget guests but hold back advanced rooms.
Room value	Advanced guests expect rooms worth more than basic guest rooms.
Exterior window	Required for Brat and Upper Crust rooms; not required for Business rooms.
Room service / service items	Higher-tier rooms benefit from convenience and staff access.

Fix the exact missing item first. Do not over-upgrade every room just because one required item is missing.

Business Guests: Requirements and Best Setup

Business guests require a 3-star hotel rating and a Conference Room. If either is missing, do not expect Business guests to fill rooms consistently.

Build Business guests around work and convenience.

Need	How to support it
Conference Room	Build a compact, functional conference area once unlocked.
3-star rating	Fix basic critic complaints before chasing Business guests.
12+ room size and $12,500+ value	Make rooms clearly better than budget rooms.
Ironing board	Required Business room item and a strong thematic fit.
Minibar	Adds convenience and premium room value.
Reliable reception	Business guests should not wait forever to check in.
Food and drinks	Steak and lobster bisque are strong high-end food targets; coffee is also appreciated.
Gym / entertainment support	Business guests may use the gym or entertainment items such as a snooker table.

Do not build a huge conference complex before you have demand. Start compact, then expand if the hotel fills Business rooms reliably.

Conference Room: Compact but Complete

I could verify the required Conference Room items, but not a reliable exact minimum tile size from the public wiki. So the safest advice is to make the room compact but item-complete.

A useful Conference Room should include:

Item	Why
Conference Table	Core conference-room furniture.
Business Screens	Supports the work-room theme.
Whiteboard	Fits Business guest conference behavior.
Snacks Table	Adds attractiveness and makes the room feel complete.

Build the smallest room that fits the required conference items, staff / guest access, and clean pathing. Do not build a giant convention center until Business demand proves it can pay for the space.

Brat Guests: The 4-Star Bridge

Brats are not as demanding as Upper Crust guests, but they are much stricter than basic guests. They are a useful bridge between mid-game service and true 5-star luxury.

To attract Brats, prepare for:

Requirement	What to build
4-star rating	Fix critic blockers before expecting Brats.
Bar zone	Required for Brats to begin arriving.
Favorite drink menu item	Make sure the bar actually serves what Brats want.
Exterior window	Brat bedrooms require one.
Premium room basics	Premium bed, wardrobe, case stand, toilet, basin, and body wash.
High room value	Aim for $21,500+ room value.
Fun / luxury items	Dance floor, golf simulator, room service table, Red Carpet Simulator, and attractive decor.
Food	Oysters are the strongest food target; lobster bisque is also very strong.

Brats are where you should start learning premium guest control before going all-in on Upper Crust rooms. They want fun and fancy items, not just a clean bedroom.

Upper Crust Guests: Hard Requirements

Upper Crust guests are not just “rich guests.” They are locked behind the highest hotel tier.

To attract Upper Crust guests, you need:

Requirement	Why it matters
5-star critic rating	Upper Crust guests will not stay before the hotel is 5 stars.
Spa zone	Spa is mandatory for Upper Crust progression and 5-star readiness.
30+ room size and $50,000+ value	Upper Crust rooms need to feel clearly elite.
Exterior window	Required for Upper Crust bedrooms.
Luxurious room items	Bed, wardrobe, case stand, toilet, basin, and body wash should be Luxurious tier.
Premium / Masterpiece decoration	Higher-grade art and decor are needed for top Upper Crust satisfaction.
High-end food and drink	Lobster bisque and oysters are better luxury menu targets than basic dishes.
Strong service chain	Cleaning, bar, restaurant, spa, and reception must keep up.

If you are at 3 or 4 stars, the correct fix is not “more Upper Crust rooms.” The correct fix is to build toward 5 stars, including Spa, critic satisfaction, premium facilities, high room value, and better service.

5-Star Roadmap for Upper Crust

Use this route if your goal is Upper Crust guests.

Step	Goal	What to do
1	Stabilize money	Do not chase Upper Crust while losing cash.
2	Reach basic review stability	Fix seating, refreshments, cleanliness, entertainment, and sleep quality.
3	Build required services	Make sure bar, restaurant, gym, staff rooms, laundry, and maintenance can function.
4	Add Spa	Treat Spa as required, not optional.
5	Create at least one Upper Crust-ready room	30+ room size, $50,000+ value, Luxurious items, exterior window.
6	Add Premium / Masterpiece decor	Use it where Upper Crust guests and critics actually see it.
7	Improve food and drinks	Add luxury menu items such as lobster bisque or oysters when your kitchen can support them.
8	Request / wait for critic improvement	You need the hotel to reach 5 stars before Upper Crust guests book.
9	Expand premium capacity	Only after the first high-end rooms and services work.

For the detailed critic side of this process, use the star rating and critic guide.

Premium and Masterpiece Decoration

In the 1.0 version, hotel art matters more. Fancier decorations can be classified as Premium or Masterpiece, and these are important for top Upper Crust ratings.

Do not decorate Upper Crust spaces with only cheap generic art and expect elite reviews.

Use Premium / Masterpiece items in:

Area	Why
Upper Crust bedrooms	Directly supports the premium room experience.
Premium corridors	Guests walk through these areas repeatedly.
Spa entrance and waiting area	Spa is central to Upper Crust progression.
Restaurant / bar	High-end guests spend time there.
Reception / lobby	Critics and guests see it early.
Luxury sitting areas	Helps the hotel feel premium outside bedrooms.

Do not waste the best pieces in staff-only rooms. Place them where critics and high-end guests can actually benefit from them.

Food and Drink Targets

Do not serve every advanced guest the same menu.

Guest type	Best food targets	Notes
Business	Steak or lobster bisque; schnitzel is acceptable	Business guests appreciate stronger food, but they are not as luxury-locked as Upper Crust.
Brat	Oysters first, lobster bisque second	Brats love expensive / fancy food and fun spaces.
Upper Crust	Lobster bisque first, oysters second	Lobster bisque is the strongest luxury target.

Do not add lobster bisque or oysters before the kitchen can actually serve them. Premium food needs the correct equipment, ingredients, chef ability, waiter coverage, and cleaning support.

Sunbather Guests: The Exterior Window and Tanning Check

Sunbathers are easier than Brats or Upper Crust guests, but they still have real requirements. If Sunbathers are not showing up, the problem is usually the room window, the tanning amenity, or the star rating.

To attract Sunbathers, prepare for:

Requirement	What to build
3-star rating	Fix basic critic blockers before expecting Sunbathers.
Tanning amenity	Sunbathers need access to tanning / sunbathing-style activities.
Exterior window	Sunbather bedrooms require an exterior window.
12+ room size	Do not make the room too tiny.
$12,500+ room value	Upgrade beyond basic Backpacker rooms.
Bathroom basics	Basic toilet and basin are enough; do not overbuild luxury too early.

Sunbathers are a good mid-game target because they teach the same lesson as later premium guests: room value and exterior placement matter. If the room has no exterior window, they may not book even if the rest of the hotel looks good.

Sunbather vs Business vs Brat vs Upper Crust

Use this comparison when deciding what to build next.

Guest type	Main focus	Build first
Sunbather	Warm-map leisure, tanning, exterior-window rooms	Tanning amenity, 3-star hotel, 12+ room size, $12,500+ room value.
Business	Work, convenience, reliable service	Conference Room, 3-star hotel, ironing board, minibar, better rooms.
Brat	Fun, bar, premium basics	Bar, 4-star hotel, exterior-window rooms, premium room items, dance floor / golf simulator.
Upper Crust	Luxury, prestige, comfort	Spa, 5-star hotel, luxury rooms, Premium / Masterpiece decor, lobster bisque.

Business guests are usually easier to justify earlier because conference facilities can be compact. Brats are a stepping stone into premium room design. Upper Crust guests are expensive because the whole hotel must reach a 5-star standard.

Do Not Let Basic Guests Take Premium Rooms

One common frustration is spending money on premium rooms, then seeing cheaper guest types use them.

This can happen if your hotel has too many basic guests, too few cheap rooms, or premium rooms that do not actually qualify for advanced guests yet.

Try this:

Problem	Fix
Backpackers take expensive rooms	Keep enough cheap rooms so they do not compete for premium rooms.
Premium rooms are too similar to budget rooms	Make premium rooms clearly better and eligible for advanced guests.
Advanced rooms are not filling	Check scenario support, star rating, required facility, and room eligibility.
Too many low-tier guests arrive	Improve star rating and later use better guest targeting / room planning.
You cannot tell room tiers apart	Use separate floors or consistent layouts for each tier.

The safest design is to split your hotel:

• budget rooms for early guests
• mid-tier rooms for Sporty / vacation guests
• Brat rooms near bar / fun spaces
• Business rooms near work services
• Upper Crust rooms near luxury services

Build a Separate Premium Floor

A separate premium floor makes advanced guest planning easier.

A good premium floor has:

• fewer but better rooms
• better bathrooms
• exterior windows for Brat and Upper Crust rooms
• short travel to elevators or stairs
• nearby high-quality services
• clean corridors
• enough staff coverage
• Premium or Masterpiece decoration in guest-facing spaces
• no ugly service bottlenecks in the guest path

Do not hide premium rooms at the end of a dirty corridor behind staff areas. Rich guests may pay more, but they also expose every weak point in your hotel.

Facilities for Advanced Guests

Advanced guests are not solved by bedrooms alone.

Facility	Required for	Notes
Conference Room	Business guests	Required Business support. Keep it compact but item-complete.
Bar	Brats	Required for Brats, and useful for Business / Upper Crust drink support.
Spa	Upper Crust / 5-star progression	Mandatory for Upper Crust strategy. Build it before expecting Upper Crust bookings.
Restaurant	Higher-end guests	Needed for luxury food service, but requires staff and equipment.
Gym	Sporty and some mid-tier hotels	Useful earlier, but not a replacement for Business, Brat, or Spa requirements.
Reception upgrades	All advanced guests	Slow check-in hurts high-expectation guests.
Laundry / cleaning	All guests	Premium guests still hate dirty rooms.

Do not build every facility at once. Build the one that unlocks or supports your current target guest.

Bar and Drink Targeting

As your guest mix gets more advanced, drinks and refreshments become more important.

When improving drinks:

1. Check which guest types each drink appeals to.
2. Keep at least one option for your current core guest type.
3. Add premium options for Brat, Business, or Upper Crust guests.
4. Do not overload the bar before service staff can handle it.
5. Watch for slow bar service complaints.

A premium drink menu does not help if guests wait too long to be served.

Why Business Guests Are Not Coming

Use this as a quick diagnosis table. The detailed requirements are covered in the Business section above.

Cause	Fix
Business guests are not active in the scenario	Progress the campaign or play a scenario that supports them.
Hotel is below 3 stars	Improve critic feedback and hotel-wide quality first.
No Conference Room	Build a compact, item-complete Conference Room once available.
Room says Business is unavailable	Add the missing items shown in the eligibility panel.
Service is weak	Fix reception, cleaning, food, drink, or staff bottlenecks.
Budget guests fill premium rooms	Keep cheaper rooms available and separate Business rooms.

Why Brats Are Not Coming

Cause	Fix
Hotel is below 4 stars	Improve critic scores before targeting Brats.
No Bar	Build a Bar zone and make sure service is staffed.
Room has no exterior window	Build Brat rooms on exterior walls.
Room value is too low	Upgrade toward $21,500+ value and Premium room basics.
Bar lacks the right drink / fun support	Add Brat-friendly drinks and fun items like dance floor or golf simulator.
Food is too basic	Add oysters or lobster bisque once the kitchen can support them.

Why Upper Crust Guests Are Not Coming

Use this as a quick diagnosis table. The detailed requirements are covered in the Upper Crust and 5-star sections above.

Cause	Fix
Hotel is not 5 stars	Build toward 5-star critic rating before expecting Upper Crust bookings.
No Spa	Build a Spa. Treat it as mandatory for Upper Crust progression.
Guest type is not active in the scenario	Check scenario support and campaign progression.
Room lacks luxury items	Add Luxurious room items, vanity, minibar, better bathroom upgrades, and service items.
Room has no exterior window	Build Upper Crust rooms on exterior walls.
Decor is too basic	Use Premium / Masterpiece decoration in guest-facing luxury areas.
Food and drink are too weak	Add lobster bisque, oysters, and premium drink support when staff can handle it.
Service quality is poor	Fix cleaning, reception, bar, restaurant, laundry, and spa service bottlenecks.

How to Raise Room Value Efficiently

Advanced guests are blocked by room value as much as by facilities. Do not raise value by randomly buying expensive items. Upgrade the items guests actually use and see.

Upgrade type	Best use
Better bed	Usually one of the most important value and comfort upgrades.
Better wardrobe / case stand	Helps meet higher-tier room expectations without changing layout.
Bathroom upgrades	Toilet, basin, shower, body wash, towel items, and better fixtures can raise both value and review quality.
Minibar	Strong value and convenience item for Business and premium rooms.
Ironing board	Important for Business rooms and useful for high-tier room value.
Vanity	Good premium-room item, especially for Upper Crust-style rooms.
Curtains, lighting, walls, floors	Efficient because they improve the whole room without using much space.
Premium / Masterpiece art	Best used in Upper Crust rooms, premium corridors, Spa, restaurant, and lobby areas.
Room service table / premium amenities	Better for Brat and Upper Crust rooms once cash flow is stable.

Use this order when upgrading a room:

1. required items first,
2. bathroom basics,
3. bed and core furniture,
4. value-boosting convenience items,
5. floors / walls / lighting,
6. Premium or Masterpiece decor,
7. luxury extras only after the room qualifies.

Best Upgrade Order

If you are trying to attract advanced guests without wasting money, upgrade in this order.

Order	Upgrade	Why
1	Confirm scenario and guest availability	Do not build for a guest type that cannot arrive yet.
2	Hit the rating gate	Sunbather and Business need 3 stars; Brat needs 4 stars; Upper Crust needs 5 stars.
3	Build the required facility	Tanning for Sunbather; Conference Room for Business; Bar for Brat; Spa for Upper Crust.
4	Fix room eligibility blockers	Missing required items are the easiest room-level fix.
5	Improve room value	Better bed, bathroom, decor, and convenience.
6	Add Premium / Masterpiece decor	Required for top Upper Crust satisfaction.
7	Improve food, drinks, and service chains	Higher-tier guests expose weak service quickly.
8	Expand premium room count	Only after the first advanced rooms are filling.

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why it hurts
Chasing Upper Crust before 5 stars	They will not book before the 5-star gate.
Treating Spa as optional	Spa is mandatory for Upper Crust progression.
Trying to attract Brats without a bar	Brats need a bar before they begin arriving.
Ignoring exterior windows	Brat and Upper Crust rooms require exterior windows.
Building luxury rooms before the required facility	A beautiful room cannot replace Conference Room, Bar, or Spa requirements.
Ignoring Premium / Masterpiece decor	Normal cheap decoration is not enough for top Upper Crust ratings.
Serving only basic food and drinks	Brats and Upper Crust guests need luxury food and premium refreshment support.
Deleting budget rooms	You still need somewhere for early guests to go.

Advanced Guest Checklist

Before expecting Business, Brat, or Upper Crust guests, check this list.

Check	Done?
The scenario supports the guest type.
Sunbather target: hotel is at least 3 stars.
Sunbather target: tanning amenity exists.
Sunbather target: rooms have exterior windows and $12,500+ value.
Business target: hotel is at least 3 stars.
Business target: Conference Room exists and has core items.
Brat target: hotel is at least 4 stars.
Brat target: Bar exists and has service coverage.
Brat target: rooms have exterior windows and premium basics.
Upper Crust target: hotel is 5 stars.
Upper Crust target: Spa exists.
Upper Crust target: rooms have exterior windows and Luxurious items.
The room eligibility panel does not show missing required items.
Premium / Masterpiece decor is placed in guest-facing luxury areas.
Food and drink options match the target guest tier.
Reception, cleaning, laundry, bar, restaurant, and spa service are not overloaded.
Budget guests still have cheaper rooms to occupy.

FAQ

When do Business and Upper Crust guests unlock?

They become a major focus in Paris and later advanced scenarios. Earlier maps may not support them, so always check the scenario guest list before building expensive rooms.

Why are Business guests not showing up in Hotel Architect?

Business guests need the scenario to support them, a 3-star hotel rating, a Conference Room, eligible rooms, and reliable service. If the room panel says Business is unavailable, fix the listed missing items.

Why are Brats not showing up?

Brats need at least a 4-star hotel rating, a Bar, eligible rooms with exterior windows, premium room basics, and strong fun / bar support.

Why are Upper Crust guests not showing up?

Upper Crust guests need a 5-star critic rating and a Spa. If you are at 3 or 4 stars, or if you have no Spa, luxury rooms alone will not bring them in.

Do I need a conference room for Business guests?

Yes. Treat the Conference Room as the required Business facility. The public wiki lists Conference Table, Business Screens, Snacks Table, and Whiteboard as conference-room items. Keep the room compact but item-complete.

Do I need a Spa for Upper Crust guests?

Yes. Spa is mandatory for Upper Crust progression. Build it as part of your 5-star route before expecting Upper Crust bookings.

Which guest types need exterior windows?

Business does not require exterior windows. Brat and Upper Crust rooms do require exterior windows, so build those rooms along exterior walls.

What food should I serve Upper Crust guests?

Lobster bisque is the strongest luxury target, with oysters also performing well. Do not add expensive dishes until your kitchen, staff, and ingredients can support them.

What food should I serve Brats?

Oysters are the best Brat food target, with lobster bisque also very strong. Pair that with a bar and fun items such as a dance floor or golf simulator.

Do Premium and Masterpiece decorations matter?

Yes. Premium and Masterpiece art / decoration are important for top Upper Crust ratings. Put them in guest-facing luxury areas, not staff-only rooms.

Should I upgrade every room for advanced guests?

No. Keep cheaper rooms for basic guests and create separate advanced blocks. Upgrading every room can waste money and let budget guests take rooms meant for richer guests.

Why do Backpackers take my expensive rooms?

You may not have enough cheap rooms, or the expensive rooms may not qualify for advanced guests yet. Keep budget rooms available and make sure premium rooms meet the target guest’s requirements.

Why are Sunbathers not showing up?

Sunbathers need the scenario to support them, a 3-star hotel rating, tanning / sunbathing activity access, an exterior-window room, 12+ room size, and about $12,500+ room value. If you have Business guests but no Sunbathers, check the exterior window first.