Hotel tech: a room with a futuristic view

Walking into the hotel lobby, you skip the queue at the check-in desk and head straight to the lifts. You already know your room number – and have the key – since you were sent a text message containing the room details and a link to a barcode to unlock the door. Once you’re inside, the in-room iPad lets you adjust the temperature, play your own music, order room service, book a spa session, and pick a film to watch on the 3D television. Monitored by analytics tracking cameras, the hotel’s restaurant seems to open and close at just the right times, and there’s always staff on hand for any requests that can’t be delivered digitally. Checking out is as simple as tapping a button on your smartphone app, and, of course, there’s no key to return. Not only does this hi-tech hotel of the future already exist, but it has the potential to save money, too. Here, we take a look at the technology being used by hotels to make your stay more secure, convenient and fun, while at the same time driving down costs for the owners.