shoot new hotels mushroomed everywhere in Europe. Often with the same concept: A bed, a bar and a buffet breakfast. But the other day opened a new chain in Copenhagen, which at the same time follows the concept – and let it all run away.
For where the hotels often are dominated by the traditions of how to check in, or when you are served, so have the Dutch chain citizenM has chosen to let guests take a habit with which many have difficulty to get rid.
Consumers are embracing technology today and technology is evolving enormously fast. the iPhone and social media existed almost a decade ago. Today one can not imagine to live without, says Robin Chadha, who is in charge of the chain together with the founder, who is his father.
A small plastic card with an embedded chip is the key to that technology can fill so much at the citizenM hotel. When you arrive, you enable yourself to the map, which now works as a key for the room, but also for payment in the bar and the little store, located in the hotel. Photo: Olivia Loftlund
the Idea behind citizenM, which has hotels throughout Europe and is well on the road in the US and partially in Asia, is to replace or supplement all of the traditions that make it difficult to stay at the hotel.
– Hotels have a responsibility to keep up with consumers. And here is technology an important element. Therefore, it should be just as easy as hop in an Uber and go, without you physically have to pay. The way it should be when you check into a hotel, think Robin Chadha.
It is, however, not only upon arrival, that technology requires a lot of space.
– In the same way the technology in the room be as easy to use as possible. And there must be a stable and fast internet.
A tablet like this is in the room and is key in the digital hotel. For with the are all controlled features such as tv, audio and air conditioning. Photo: Olivia Loftlund
One of the things that annoys Robin Chadha, is, if you as a guest to play ’hide and seek’ with the decor.
– There is nothing more annoying than when you as a guest to look behind furniture and curtains to find the button for the light, air conditioner and other important features. Therefore, there is a tablet in every room which acts as the remote control for everything you need in the room. You can control the mood of the room or let a group of virtual elephants awaken you in the morning through the speakers, he laughs.
There are also traditional buttons in the rooms for those who prefer it.
– But if you want to, you can just use the tablet.
Although the hotel is dominated by technology, the staff is not further away than that you can always get help. Photo: Olivia Loftlund
The big question now is whether the whole exercise is not just about building a hotel, where the guests ’get tasks’? And when employees can be spared down to a minimum?
– No, if there are no people, we cannot be the hotel, we want to be, is the answer from Robin Chadha.
– that is Why our employees are also its ambassadors, who have a high degree of autonomy in their work.
– They are our face, while the technology provides a lot of extra hands to make it easier to be a guest.
Tester: Easy to use
the Extra Leaf let an experienced traveler, who often stay overnight in hotels, test the citizenM. Here are his main observations from the stay.
Although you can easily clear check-in on the set of machines, friendly staff, very aware that the guest comes through the menus. The system is, however, so logical that even inexperienced travelers can easily do it yourself.
It is smart that all the features are gathered in a tablet. There is again the thought that users who are not technologically strong, can control the most important thing in the room.
the Hotel promises that the internet is both fast and stable. The promise live up to. It is also good that you avoid having to type in a password into, but can immediately go online.
Extra Leaf was invited to spend the night of citizenM
the Meter can bring water consumption up to 20 percent down, showing previous attempts with it. Display with consumption sitting on the wall, while the sensor sits in the ceiling. Photo: Scandic
Vejle takes the lead: Here, saves the on the water
At Scandic Jacob Gade in Vejle has also embraced technology in use. As a test is put a special meter up in the shower, so guests at each of the 129 rooms can see how long they have been in the bath.
the Meter detects when there is a person in the bath, and the water is turned on. However, there is no limitation on the badetiden and also not tampered with the bath in other ways. The counter should only guide the users to consume less water.
According to the local company Aguardio that stands behind the technology, demonstrates the tests from the other hotels, that the meter can bring the water use down significantly. At the same time, the hotels collect a variety of useful data about, for example, humidity in the room and water consumption.
You can read more about the test here.
