Forgotten your shoes while on a business trip? No bother, you can create a pair, or perhaps some other forgotten essential, using a 3D printer.
That is the vision of hotel stays in the future given by Best Western GB to its hotel members at the annual conference in Wales last week.
The company created four hotel rooms of the future highlighting how new technologies might benefit the industry going forward.
A particular focus was Lifi, the potential to transmit data via light, which could replace wifi if and when it becomes commercially available. Right now it's still pretty much at the lab stage and there are many considerations such as how entrenched wifi is already is but the 5G technology is promising.
Back in 2011, the potential for Lifi was also raised by former president of Sabre Hospitality Solutions Felix Laboy, during some crystal ball gazing at a company conference.
Other technologies that could improve the guest experience were also demonstrated at the Best Western conference including some which are already in play such as self check-in/check0ut, mobile payment and keyless entry via smartphone.
Others can't be that far behind including:
- a watch that acts as a language translator to help reception staff
- a smart coffee machine that remembers guest preferences
- Oculus Rift headsets as part of the in-room entertainment experience
- tables that act as device chargers
- Information projected onto any surface primarily targeting the business travel market
Best Western says the next step is to kit out one of its hotel members with some of the technology so that guests can get a feel for it as well.