Heavens. First it was iMacs, now iPads.
If you’re fortunate enough to be able to afford a stay in one of the suites at London’s Berkeley Hotel, you’ll be handed an iPad with a variety of specially “themed” apps.
The hotel explains
From Le Monde to the Wall Street Journal, your local newspaper will be available at breakfast and quickly checking the opening times of Christian Louboutin on Motcomb Street has never been more convenient. A wide range of games, videos and comic books is available for children and our experienced Concierge team has created their personal Top 5 of must-visit places – shops, exhibitions, local attractions and some hidden gems – which are clearly mapped so that you can plan your itinerary.
These things aren’t even available to buy in the UK yet remember.
The paradigm shift is well under way in the Berkeley Hotel. That must be a first-class hotel to provide those type of services. Apparently they don’t see the iPad as being useless.
I’ve stayed at the Berkeley and I’m glad they are doing something to try to make their hotel interesting.
Of course, their rooms were so overpriced and low quality (in comparison to other hotels in that price range), that I’d never stay there again. If you’re staying more than a night or two, you could BUY an iPad with the savings from staying somewhere else.
Sticky Ipads……
Gross!
the hotel is going to lose its adult entertainment revenue LOL
Ok, now that’s a concept i can get behind.
Perhaps soon Berkeley will let guests use the iPad to control every aspect/amenities of the suite. Using control4 automation system
source: http://www.machoe.com/3779/control4-proves-home-automation-is-better-with-ipads.html
I am not so sure… 1) hotels have never been tech experts, because hotels don’t have money to pioneers things. If you have ever worked in a hotel, you know why… pioneers get shot in the back. Every time we try and pioneer a new technology, we get screwed. Let hospitals sort this out, and we can steal it from their tested infrastructure 2) I can’t imagine *ANY* guest looking at a gimmick like that and wanting to frustrate themselves with a UI learning curve during a 1.2 night stay, and 3) Anyone that likes and knows how to use an ipad will be toting it along… no need to borrow one.
Along with guest associated damage, and lack of meaningful content at this juncture…. it’s basically going to be a broken toy.
Being hip doesn’t mean being smart, nor does it mean being classy. Hip and classy are two separate things. To be truly classy you would be there to serve the guest without telling them what they should be doing. Rather than forcing a tech on potential neophytes, why not support the tech with charging stations, or accessibility.
I look at this as fun, but too in far in front of the way tablets will change us. I know it isn’t what tech fanboys want to hear, but I am just talking business. Revisit this in one-three months and see how it’s doing.
hotels in London have so much competition, they have to think of anything unique they can offer to set them apart from all the other hotels that are so similar …
it does not have to be expensive place – have a loo at Cracowdays in Krakow – Poland, not only iPad’s but also mobile internet connection in the whole country when you stay with them!