Video: Holiday Inn Express Hotels hires first ever ‘Efficiency Engineer’

Holiday Inn Express has appointed leading life hacker Dave Hax as its first ever 'Efficiency Engineer' as part of its commitment to making its guest experience as 'Simple. Smart. Spot On' as possible.
Following new research that shows that Brits' travels are blighted by 'packing dilemmas' including creased clothing (42%) and forgotten toothbrushes (25%), Hax' first role as Efficiency Engineer is to revolutionise the way people pack their suitcase in a short video.

Hax shot to international fame when his 'How to fold a T-shirt in two seconds' video topped the YouTube viral chart with over four million views. The self-styled 'How To' expert is sharing his top tips to solve common problems to help people travel as efficiently as possible. With almost half (47%) of those who travel for work claiming it's a taxing part of their life and a third (31%) claiming to be over-packers who struggle to find room in their case for essentials, the video will provide welcome relief to stressed- out Brits.

The must-see video, simply titled 'Hax Packs', has already had over a quarter of a million views. It sees Dave demonstrating his masterful shirt-folding in a new record time of 1.84 seconds and sharing clever 'I wish I'd thought of that' packing solutions. The film will be shared with all Holiday Inn Express guests on receiving their booking confirmation, so savvy travellers can try his travel shortcuts in preparation of their stay.

Mike Greenup, Vice President Brand Management, IHG, Europe adds: "IHG's 2013 Trends Report identified a new breed of 'smart traveller' who is looking for independent, fuss-free travel. Dave's pragmatic and efficient approach impressed us, so we asked him to create a short film to inspire our 'smart travellers' to pack, travel and stay with us as efficiently as possible.

"We're continually evolving to meet our guests' needs. Amongst other thoughtful complimentary services, guests are able to indulge in our Free Express Start™ Breakfast to fuel an efficient and productive day. Holiday Inn Express was also the first hotel brand of scale to offer free unlimited wi-fi throughout the hotel to guests in the UK*. We want to offer our guests exactly what they need and nothing they don't."

Dave Hax adds: "I'm an engineer by trade and spend my spare time trying to solve life's little challenges. After seeing my shirt-folding video, Holiday Inn Express Hotels approached me to produce a short film to help their guests travel more efficiently. I'm passionate about creating simple shortcuts to make everyday life easier and created this video of straightforward tips and tricks that anyone can try.'

Dave's simple tricks for packing like a pro include:

• Use pre-packed hanging shelves so you can pack your suitcase in one impressive move
• Roll belts inside shirt collars to help maintain their shape
• Store electrical cables in a sunglasses case so they're always to hand
• Fold your suit jacket inside out to stop creases
• Cling film toiletries to prevent unwanted spillages
• Use business cards as handy luggage tags