SORRY this toilet is closed. You can however visit the other facilities - but only during these limited hours.

Establishments are employing innovative means of cutting costs in the face of an economic slowdown, and hotels are no exception.

Raffles Hotel last week ordered the closure of two of its nine public toilets in the shopping arcade, and the shortening of operating hours for others, reported Lianhe Wanbao on Thursday.

The Chinese daily said the move has left many tenants dissatisfied and worried about their businesses. One told Wanbao that this will bring inconvenience to customers and even dissuade them from patronising the shops.

The reason behind the changes - to reduce costs, said the hotel's management in a written notice last Tuesday to arcade tenants, which include reputable brands like Louis Vuitton, The Hour Glass and Swarovski.

In an interview with Wanbao, a hotel spokesperson said tweaking the operating hours of public toilets will synchronise it with the opening hours of restaurants and retail stores.

The spokesperson, however, did not mention how much money will be saved through such measures.

Raffles Hotel said it will take into consideration the concerns and feedback from tenants.

Running from floor to floor in a bathrobe?

Beauty@Genesis, a tenant on the second floor of the hotel's shopping arcade, is likely to be affected by the new changes.

The toilet located nearby to the beauty and wellness salon is now open only from 11.30am to 2.30pm, and between 6.30pm to 10pm.

Should customers or staff require the use of a toilet, they will have to walk some 30 meters to the nearest facility on level one.

Making customers walk from floor-to-floor in their bathrobes, should they need to use the toilet, is just not right, said a salon staff.