Room Evolution

We've been a little quiet on the blog lately largely due to being preoccupied with some redesign plans for the hotel. That's led to a lot of thought on have hotels kept ahead of consumerism? There was an article recently noting that once upon a time the promise of a hot shower and a clean bed was enough but now rest and relaxation run a poor second to hooking up a wi fi network and recharging smart phones, notebooks and other devices. There was a time when checking in to a hotel meant accessing the things you didn't have at home or in the office, the flat screen tv's, the built in room to room stereos and the like. There seems to have been a lull where hotels have been lagging behind private homes, but reading some trade press recently the next evolution of hotels are getting really 'cool' again. What would be on your room wish list?

To Click Or Not To Click

I was discussing last night the worth of online banner advertising and the probability of the eyeballs reaction, ie the 3 steps to advertisers heaven… view, click and convert! It’s hard to have belief when I know that my habits don’t climb those stairs. When I’m online, okay, I’m maybe a casual viewer, perhaps an odd clicker, but I’m never a converter. You see, when I’m online I’ve gone to that site for a specific reason and it’s not to look at the third party advertising. I’m just a more responsive print eyeballer, I cut, tear and save for later. Maybe I’m a little spoiled due to working in front of a computer for 12 hours or so a day and surfing in my downtime really takes an effort, but I wonder what the majority of eyeballs out there actually infact do?

Web 3.0

Forgive me blog, for I have not posted! I have been cheating on you with Twitter! Where will Web 2.0 end? There are so many, many, many avenues that now comprise Web 2.0 and social media that I have to ask where do people get the time! I read somewhere that prime time evening television is losing market share to the internet and more specifically social media channels. I was thinking the other day what will be Web 3.0? I think voice recognition already exists doesn’t it? Maybe we’ll have computers that will tune into our thoughts so that for whatever I’m thinking a website will appear!

The Art Of Acknowledgement

How much is too much? How much is too little? Is it eye contact, a smile, a nod, a hello? For me eye contact is a must. We're all different though so what is it that's exactly just right? Reading a person certainly is an art. A hotel lobby is a great place to watch the various interactions.

It’s Our Oscars!

Just like Hollywood, hotels also have awards. We've recently done submissions for some particular hotel awards. This morning we’ve been advised that we’re a finalist in each of those categories – very exciting. We won’t find out the results until the envelopes are read at the award ceremony in May. This has got me thinking though, do awards make a difference when choosing a hotel? What influence, if any, do they have on the decision making process?

I Like It

I’ve been fortunate to travel a bit and I’ve stayed in all sorts of accommodation. I’ve been thinking lately, what makes a hotel a favourite? Is it the bed, the food, the location or the service? While I don’t have fond memories of El Paso I do of a dinner there, it was in a restaurant of a hotel, just a salad but the freshest leaves and the dressing was made at my table. The best sleep I’ve ever had was in Chicago, it is the first time in my life I have pulled apart a hotel bed to read every label on the bedding. Then there was the best Jazz brunch ever in London, it started mid morning and went till the evening with bottomless glasses of champagne. So many places, so many memories and a lot of unexpected touches - perhaps that is what makes a hotel a favourite?

Who Turned Off The Lights?

This Saturday night the hotel is taking part in Earth Hour – the global warming initiative whereby you turn off your lights for one hour. If Australia’s commercial sector turned off lights when buildings weren’t in use and combined this with other cost effective technology there would be a reduction in lighting emissions by 70% or 2 – 4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s an amazing amount when you think about it. If all Australian households simply turned off unused lighting and appliances on standby it would reduce emissions by at least 5 million tonnes per annum. Now I just find that frightening. The amount of wastage by using standby instead of switching them off at the wall is shocking. So more importantly, let’s not wait for one hour of the year to do this, let’s make an effort to do this every day, I think it should be a daily habit, not an annual celebration.

Live And Unplugged

No, I’m not referring to a band! It’s now easier to get connected when staying in the hotel. There is now 24 hour complimentary internet access and also wireless in every guest room. To me, this just makes life a little easier when travelling, a bonus if you like. A friend recently took a long weekend in Brisbane and was annoyed there was an internet charge, he refused to have to pay for the service. He lived in the US for a number of years and tells me it's standard for it to be free there, clearly not the case in Australia. I wonder how many others consider complimentary internet a plus and thus part of the selection criteria when choosing which hotel to stay at?