Technology for the Next Generation Travelers

The next generation travelers have been described as being highly educated individuals with a desire to travel. They are very demanding and seek the latest trends in technology. They have grown with technology and expect hotels to adapt to technology. The top four in-room technologies that all next-gen travelers will love are: 1) iPhone applicability, 2) Converged services, 3) Plug and Play, and 4) Radio revolution.

iPhone applicability is solved through Hotel Evolution (from the company, Runtriz), which is a mobile touchscreen platform that allows hotel guests to utilize their iPhones to order room service, view hotel information, make reservations and schedule transportation. Everything is at their fingertips and the next-gen traveler is far to wired to browse through traditional hotel directories.

Converged services is offered with Fonekey, Inc. which provides a solution that allows travelers to access a wide variety of hotel services through a device they are most comfortable with: their cell phone. Guests can remotely make a reservation, check-in, obtain room assignments, unlock the door, adjust the room temperature, operate the guestroom safe, mini-bar and television, access guest services and even check out.

Plug and Play: When it comes to in-room entertainment, next-gen travelers are looking for more then just an HDTV in their rooms. What they want to have is the ability to connect laptops and gaming systems to large screen televisions to enhance the use of their devices. Hyatt Place is just one of a few hotel companies that are offering more then just a large flat panel HDTV. Its Plug Panels are connected to 42" HDTV's and come equipped with jacks to connect all of these devices for increased usability and enjoyment.

Radio revolution: Not very long ago the main piece of technology in the hotel room other then the TV was the clock radio. Today, the next-gen traveler would be insulted if this was the lone piece of musical entertainment in the room. The next-gen traveler wants to either plug their iPOD/MP3 player into a device that delivers a full rich sound or have a radio/CD player that delivers the same quality of sound. Bose Corporation is one vendor that has recognized the importance of the hospitality industry and next-gen traveler. Two of its product lines, Wave and 3.21 Entertainment systems, are fast becoming staples in hotel rooms.