The recent developments in video game technology offer very unique opportunities for hotel guests. Nintendo’s Wii video game system is a more hands on approach to gaming that allows a user to manipulate the game. Nintendo is coming out with a new product focused on fitness. It is called Wii Fit and includes a game and a peripheral. The peripheral is a small board that measures weight distribution and body movement as the game runs people through a series of fitness programs. The game can track your progress as well as calculate body mass index (BMI) in order to help people track results.
This technology could be very useful in a hotel room of the future. People are more health conscience and fitness options are being demanded by guests. This system by Nintendo, or one like it, could allow for people to work out in their guest rooms. Guests could ask for rooms with this technology if they are not interested in going for a run in a strange city. It could also be delivered like an amenity. Hopefully the technology will also make exercising more fun for hotel guests. The game system is popular across several demographics and according to a 2007 article in Travel Agent Magazine it has already been installed in cruise ships owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd. with success. Perhaps hotels could implement this technology in a cost effective way by using the same technology that’s employed for offering video games in a guest room without an actual game console.
I know I'm not exactly an industry insider, but I am aware that that at least one Courtyard by Marriott is testing Wii systems in the guest room. The testing has only been underway for a few months and is being evaluated on guest feedback. For now though, it is purely for gaming, not training. We'll have to see what hoteliers will do do to continue to push guest room technology.
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