ANALYSIS


Curating your stay J


Global hotel chains are embracing innovative technology to shape the experience of corporate travellers


UST BEFORE LAST Christmas, Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta capped a record year of growth for the global hotel chain – opening its 5,000th


property and welcoming 11.5 million new members to its Hilton Honors loyalty scheme – by launching what he described as an ‘innovation gallery and incubator’ adjacent to a Hilton hotel close to its global headquarters in McLean, northern Virginia. The 1,300 sqm gallery showcases the latest technology and service developments


34 BBT March/April 2018


the hotelier is considering introducing to its 13 brands, ranging from its flagship Hilton Hotels to Hilton Garden Inn and Doubletree by Hilton, along with newcomers such as Canopy and Tru. Ideas already under way include new


noise reduction systems to help achieve better sleep, allowing guests to customise their room’s digital artwork to their own tastes, and new food and beverage concepts. Visitors to the invitation-only gallery, such as hotel investors, can visualise the room developments with the aid of virtual reality


headsets, while designers, inventors and others can brainstorm their ideas in the building’s ‘Innovation Theatre’. “We’ve actually been an innovation


factory for almost 100 years,” says Nassetta, citing Hilton’s leadership in introducing developments, such as putting televisions into guest rooms, developing central reservation systems and, more recently, the introduction of its smartphone-based ‘digital room keys’ app. This app replaces conventional room keys (of the plastic variety) and controls


BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124