Raising the bar through technology at The Beverly Hilton
Earlier this month, I thoroughly enjoyed a short stay at the iconic Beverly Hilton. Click here for the review! Since opening in 1955, the hotel has welcomed Presidents, members of The Royal Family and a countless number of celebrities. The hotel enjoys a prominent location just moments away from the glamour of Rodeo Drive; and the gorgeous sandy beaches of Santa Monica. It is also the home of the famed Golden Globes!
It has become more apparent over the past couple of years that the hospitality and travel industry have been thinking of new and innovative ways to enhance the guests experience. So much so that the hotel has partnered with Intelity; a market leader whom provide this type of integrated technology to businesses around the world.
I was very excited when I first learned that the hotel provides a tablet in each guest room which features an application called ICE, that’s Interactive Customer Experience to you and me. The application allows you to make a number of requests to the hotel staff for things such as room service, housekeeping requests and so much more. The tablet is also great to use as a bedside alarm clock; you really do not know how much I loathe hotel rooms where I cannot find a single clock in sight!
If you were looking for the traditional folder listing everything that you need to know about the hotel, then forget it. You’ll find all the information, including some neat interactive functions on the tablet, and also on the TV too. It saves paper and thus helps the environment. It’s a win-win situation in my opinion.
Not only was I impressed with the in-room tablets, but I could also download an app onto my iPhone! Aptly named @BeverlyHilton; the mobile application allowed me to take a look at the menu for the Circa 55 restaurant, order additional amenities for the room (toothbrush, shampoo, slippers, etc.), and even make a request to the concierge. Another nifty thing of the app was a little local area guide; which I seemed to use religiously throughout my stay. The app is also available for Android amongst other devices.
So there you have it. Even an AAA four-diamond hotel that is loved thorough the land can use technology to enhance the guests experience. Sure, it may be easier for some people to just call using the in-room telephone, or even walk along to the front desk. But as more of us now use and rely on technology for almost everything; this is certainly a step in the right direction.
