By Soo Kim
Copyright newsweek
A viral video showing two best friends discovering a unique hotel room feature—a clear-glass shower stall placed directly in the center of the room—has left millions of viewers on social media stunned, amused, and a little confused.The TikTok clip, posted by user @joon_rkive4 on August 8, has racked up almost 6 million views and sparked a flood of commentary on the unusual design choice.It begins with on-screen text that reads: “Just two childhood besties having to watch each other shower,” setting the tone for the odd—and hilarious—reveal.The video opens with one of the friends standing by the bed. A voice off-camera asks, “Can you show me the shower?” as the friend walks across the room, struggling to hold back laughter. The camera pans toward her to reveal a transparent glass shower enclosure located not in the bathroom, but prominently in the middle of the hotel room.As the friend opens the door and steps inside, the voice says, “Right in the middle of the room … oh,” before both friends break into hysterical laughter.The location of the hotel was later identified in a comment shared by the poster in a follow-up clip, revealing that the property is the Fletcher Hotel Amsterdam in the Netherlands.It remains a complex period for the hospitality industry. The 2025 State of the Industry report by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) found that 64.9 percent of hotels continue to face staffing shortages, even as total hotel employment in the U.S. is projected to surpass 2.17 million workers this year, contributing over $128 billion in wages and compensation.Despite workforce challenges, the AHLA report emphasized that guest satisfaction is heavily influenced by cleanliness—more than price or location. As hotels compete for increasingly discerning customers, designs perceived as impractical or uncomfortable can quickly backfire in the age of viral social media.TikTok users quickly flooded the comments section with reactions to the hotel shower design in the viral clip.User @lumi_animefan posted: “That’s a whole other level of bonding experience.” Another viewer, @miiiikaa_ii, asked: “okay but why is it in the MIDDLE OF THE ROOM ?”Some speculated the layout was designed with couples in mind. “Is this a love hotel or something,” asked Elvin Tür, while Dakota echoed the sentiment, saying: “So is this perhaps a hotel specifically for couples.”Others weren’t sold on the concept, even for romantic partners. User hxnnx commented: “okay but like i wouldn’t even want my partner to have a full 360 view of me when I’m showering every time.” NoemieLM🇨🇦 added: “I would feel awkward even being alone.”Newsweek has contacted the original poster via TikTok and the Fletcher Hotel Amsterdam via email for comment. This video has not been independently verified. Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
