The hotel guest room is constantly evolving and Hotel Rooms go High-Tech by Erin Sternthal discusses this as it relates to technology. The article outlines what several major companies and brands are installing in their rooms to better accommodate the guest. The Peninsula Tokyo which opened in September is very high-tech. The company installed consoles that can control all aspects of the room without ever leaving bed. There are standard aspects like an alarm clock as well as controls for temperature, curtains, lights, and even a night-light button that can illuminate the path to the bathroom. They also provide internet radio with over 3,000 channels to guests and preset channels that are related to the home country of the traveler.
The Plaza in
One item that will be installed, or already is, in many guestrooms in many brands is a panel that allows users to plug in various devices.
Marriot is rolling out HD televisions along with connectivity panels and will have the ability to utilize a split screen, allowing guests to multitask. Marriot will also offer more channels in the rooms.
Starwood will begin to place Microsoft Surface technology in their Sheraton hotels. It is a new type of computer that will most likely be part of tables. The technology allows users to manipulate a large display with their hands and even bring up information on items that they place on the surface.
This article may not debut any never-before-seen technology, but the majority of it will be very new to the hotel industry. It is great to see that more and more hotel firms are realizing how adding technology can provide guests with unique experiences and an easier environment in which to do work or relax. I think a lot of this new technology will be greatly appreciated by the traveler. Extended stay properties really want to create a home-like environment for guests and allowing them to do work from their room or bring their own forms of entertainment is a great way. I believe that many of the technologies will become standard in the industry as more and more tech-savvy travelers demand ways to keep up a high-tech lifestyle while away from home.
One issue that could affect hotels is the fact that because guests can bring their own media and display it on the television their may be a decline in revenue from pay-per-view offerings. They can bring their own DVD’s or stream internet video which would eliminate the need for them to order in room movies.
I personally rely heavily on technology and am glad to see that when I’m away from home I will able to continue this. I have used the panels that control the room at trade shows as well as in hotels. I’ve been to the “technology” room at the Courtyard Newark and love how this room really allows people to feel at home by displaying personal pictures on digital frames.
I look forward to what hotel rooms of the future will provide.
Sternthal, E.F. (Dec 1, 2007). Hotel Rooms Go High-Tech. In Home Based Travel Agent. Retrieved January 9, 2008, from
http://www.homebasedta.com/hbta/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=477366&pageID=1&sk=&date=
3 comments:
It was interesting to read about what types of technology will be used in hotel guest rooms. The author of the article is correct in stating that the hotel guest room is constantly evolving, especially in relation to technology. Just reading about the technological advancements is exciting and when they are actually used in a guestroom, the guest will definitely be impressed, increasing guest satisfaction. These specific technological features will customize a guest’s hospitality experience even further, providing great service in a different manner. If I were a frequent business traveler, I would appreciate these advancements that would make traveling to a foreign place, more comforting.
Learning about what new technologies hotels are installing is always exciting to me. I love staying in hotels and resorts and seeing how they compare to others, what new things they are installing and how they align with the demands of today’s traveler. I think that all of the technology mentioned will be greatly used and appreciated by the guests who stay there. None of them seemed useless or a waste of money as I am sure all of them will bring enough people back to generate revenue. As technological advances become more and more important to people in their day to day lives, it is important for the hospitality industry to keep up with them and make sure that their guests feel as at home as possible while traveling.
Good work picking out this article! It was really interesting to read about the different ways in which hotels are incorporating technology. I was particularly intrigued by the new remotes hotels are installing in rooms which allows the guest to control temperature, television, lighting and more, all from the comfort of their own bed. I would think that by allowing the guest to control the atmosphere of the room they would be more satisfied with their stay because they are able to take part in creating their own experience. This article seemed to touch on various ways for hotels to use technology, which is nice because the customers expect different features from different hotels. The article really showed the many ways in which hotels can create an advantage against their competitors, which today is so important in this industry. Nice job!
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