External Articles

Cracking Open the Hotel Minibar | wsj.com

The traditional hotel minibar may offer a cure for late-night cravings, but the home of the $4 Kit Kat can make anyone, hotel executive or guest, grumble.Dissatisfied with tepid sales or fed up with arguing over disputed charges, hotels world-wide are overhauling their minibar offerings, moving tempting items out into open view, or just leaving fridges empty for guests to use.

The moves aim to ease the headaches of operating the Lilliputian appliances. Traditional minibars need to be checked and replenished by employees daily. Unsold items expire. Bottles of beer disappear.

High Tech Hotels: theWit Doubletree, Chicago | pcmag.com

Even in a city known for its architecture, theWit Doubletree in Chicago, Illinois stands out, thanks in no small part to the neon green lightning bolt down the exterior facade. It is a design element that boldly proclaims something even more interesting is going on inside. Indeed, theWit is one of the most technologically advanced hotels in the world.

Hotels' new-tech TVs have guests fuming | usatoday.com

Hotel-room televisions are the "No. 1 pet peeve" of frequent business traveler Chris Byrd. Byrd, who stays about 75 nights a year in hotels, says an increasing number of rooms have new flat-screen, high-definition TV sets. But, he says, the picture quality is often poor. "Many times I've reported problems, and most desk agents have no clue what I'm talking about," says Byrd, a Phoenix-based research associate in the pharmaceutical industry.

Plenty of Room at the Inn for Hotel CRM Systems | ecommercetimes.com

Pick a room -- any room. There are lots of choices of places to stay for travelers in the U.S. In fact, there are 4.4 million guestrooms across the country, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association. And that's a problem. Competitors in the hospitality sector need some kind of an edge to gain new customers and, even more importantly, to keep their current customers coming back to the same hospitality brand whether the actual guestroom is in New York, Denver, or anywhere else.

Winners, Losers In Choice-Expedia Feud | hotelsmag.com

If you are not already aware, Expedia Inc. pulled all Choice Hotels from its Web sites on October 15 after contract negotiations broke down. Accusatory fingers are pointing in both directions. Choice refused to sign a deal that executives say would have created conditions that effectively take away franchisees’ rights to manage inventory and rates. Choice says it will not allow Expedia to restrict their ability to manage their business.

Hotels' charges for Internet irk some | usatoday.com

Frequent business traveler Randall Blinn refuses to stay at hotels that charge for Internet access. "It really irritates me that the more expensive hotels charge for Internet access when the inexpensive hotels provide it for free," says Blinn, a computer consultant in Louisville. Blinn is one of many travelers disturbed by hotels that charge a daily fee for Internet access. He says he books less-expensive hotels with free Internet access, even if his company will pay for a more expensive hotel that charges for online access.

High-end hotels are going wireless | latimes.com

Upscale locations are adding high-tech systems that let guests control lights, curtains, alarm clocks and more. When Elliot Aleskow recently checked into the Montage Beverly Hills, the Maryland doctor got a room with what seemed to be typical hotel amenities: A bed, a flat-screen TV, curtains, an alarm clock, lamps and a remote control. But there was nothing typical about the room's built-in technology.

Richard Siegel interviews Kris Singleton, CIO of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Richard Siegel is President and Publisher for Hospitality Upgrade. Established in 1992, Hospitality Upgrade is the leading technology magazine published for hotel, travel and foodservice professionals including management, independent operators, executives and chains.

Starwood Tries Digital Magazines for Hotel Guests | wsj.com

Starting this week, more than 75 hotels owned by Starwood, the parent company of the Sheraton, W and Westin chains, will offer guests the ability to read digitally formatted magazines during their stays. Guests at Starwood’s Aloft, Element and some Four Points Sheraton hotels will be able to use their computers and the hotel Internet connection to download free copies of magazines like Elle, US News & World Report and PC World through Zinio, a San Francisco firm that renders more than 1,000 magazines in a format for easy reading on computers, smart phones and other digital devices.

Cellphones will unlock hotel rooms of the future, experts say | vancouversun.com

Hotel rooms without phone lines, art that changes in tune with your mood, even beds without mattresses. These are some of the predictions of technology futurists. Take the classic landline phone: Soon to disappear, thanks to the ubiquity of mobile technology. Not only will guests rely on their personal cellphones for calls, they'll use them as electronic "keys" that offer a contactless way in the room. A simple intercom system will allow guests to contact the front desk.

Newer, practical technologies shaping future hotel rooms | vancouversun.com

If E.T. wants to phone home in the future, he'd best not check into a hotel. According to technology futurists, in-room land lines in hotels will soon be obsolete thanks to the ubiquity of mobile technology. Not only will guests rely on their personal cellphones to call out, they'll use them as electronic "keys" that offer a contactless way in. A simple intercom system will allow guests to contact the front desk.

HotelChatter's Annual Hotel WiFi Report 2009 | hotelchatter.com

When we did our first HotelChatter WiFi Report back in 2004, we focused on the few hotels and hotel chains that were offering free, reliable hotel wireless and those who weren't. Over the next couple of years, more and more hotels began addressing the issue of adding dependable wireless for their guests, both in-room and in-lobby. However, what we are seeing in 2009 is a trend towards the corrosion of the upkeep, reliability and "freeness" of hotel wireless services.