5 hi-tech hotels in Asia that use robot concierges and apps to serve guests
Technology-driven hotels are revolutionising hospitality experiences for guests who are happy to swipe, talk to robots or take a ‘holiday on the moon’
In today’s scroll up and down culture, technology is bound to filter into the arena of luxury hotels.
Countering most operators offering a range of personalised experiences is a growing trend of establishments that feature check-in through an app, swipe-able light switches, a multilingual robotic dinosaur concierge, or a lunar resort designed for rain-free holidays.
1. Bangkok: Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11
Launched in late 2011 in the heart of Bangkok, this Aloft property is the grand dame of hi-tech hotels. Of the 296 guestrooms and suites in W hotels’ hipster sister, 49 are Touch Rooms equipped with FINGI, a room key that doubles as a personal smart phone.
Use the key (or your own smart phone) to navigate the confusing soi, or alleys, near the hotel, carry around iPads with Wi-fi on the go, book tables in local restaurants, or stay in touch with family back home.
Inside the guest room, FINGI controls lights and air conditioning. The all-day-dining restaurant Crave offers a 3,000-bottle wine cellar catalogued on its iPad for guests to swipe for pairings with Thailand’s famous fried noodle dish, pad thai.
