Computers and Hotels

Filed in archive Hotels/Resorts on November 26, 2005

The marriage of hospitality and technology just made life a lot nicer for business travelers.

As reported by New York Times, Mandarin Oriental and other high-end hotels have smart computer systems installed that "connect individual rooms to network servers can now keep track of guests' preferences and change the room conditions automatically."

What exactly does this mean? Frequent guests can expect the hotel to remember their preferences -- whether they want the refrigerator stocked with their choice of drink, comfortable room temperature as per their requirement, frequently called numbers saved on the hotel phone, choice of music, etc.

"The backbones of these smart rooms are the data networks that hotels are installing to carry phone calls, video and Internet connections. The networks, for example, make it possible to offer Internet television services that store programs on servers and let guests watch shows on demand (a guest from Chicago could watch a Cubs game in London or Tokyo)."

Some hotel chains' networks are connected to make it easier for the Staff, should the guest check-in the same chain in another area/country.

This is a great addition for travelers who are creature of habits. Suddenly, that hotel room doesn't look so cold and impersonal anymore.