Inspiration of 2009: Sleeping in a rescue capsule
1-6-2011
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This was once a rescue capsule hanging besides a drillplatform in the Northsea, now the capsule is turned over into a luxury suite, which accommodate a bed for 2 persons, a seat, sanitation and a minibar. It floats around on the Friesland lakes.
Spiral lounge chair for next to the pool
30-5-2011
This chair is designed bij Victor M. Aleman. The general idea of people facing towards eachother is that they can communicate more while sunbathing. The chair is made with a modular design so that it is easy to transport and store. We only expect a quarrel if both want to lie in the sun.
Sleeping in a wing
27-5-2011
The designers of “2012 Architecten” thought of a way to use the three wings of a windturbine. The wings are big enough to fit a bed, a table with chairs and a wardrobe. These rooms will contain as well a solar powered shower, solar energy cooking facility and a compost toilet.
Self service soup
27-5-2011
Townhouse Designhotel Maastricht is nominated for the Dutch Hotel Award. The Jury gave the three nominated hotels an assignment. They have to use social medie to let people know they are nominated for the award with the message self (&) service added. Townhouse is serving free soup during check-in at the hotel. Because of that, the website Self-service-soep.nl is launched, here all the social media traffic about Townhouse is gathered. Hans van Wolde , star master chef is asking people to send in new recipes for soup.
Oscar Stock Market System
24-5-2011
Ordering a drink in a bar will never be the same with the Oscar Stock Market system of the Belgium companies Torex and Drugstore. This POS won in 2010 the ‘Innovation Award’ of the Horeca Expo, for new concepts. A dynamic screen in the bar shows the current prices of the drinks, based on the fluctuating stock prices. Even a stock crash can be simulated. A nice way of increasing the experience around ordering drinks and herewith stimulate the sales.
No damage from online reviews
19-5-2011
ReviewPush allows owners of a business to stay on top of their reviews in an efficient way. There are so many user reviews sites, that it is more difficult for business owners to keep up with all of them. ReviewPush monitors most user review sites on a daily basis and alerts the business owner via a customized review report.
Inspiration for hoteliers
16-5-2011
The vacation period is coming up again and apart from all the preparation, comes another challenge: the big SIM card exchange with family and friends. Because of the extraordinary (roaming) costs that come with a SIM card from ‘back home’, it is cheaper to call with local cards. If your relatives can’t provide you with the right card(s), a newly bought card is one of the best value-for-money buys you can do on your holiday. Mostly it even pays off to buy an extra phone as well, especially if you return to the country on a regular basis or stay for more than a month.
Wouldn’t it be very nice if you could save all this fuzz and lend a card, or even a phone upon your arrival?! And wouldn’t it be very easy to have such a service at your hotel? The phone in the hotel rooms is only used for a wake-up call or room service, but imagine the possibilities of a ‘mobile hotel phone’. The ideal win-win situation whereas the guest can call much cheaper, the hotelier provides an extra service and can even make last minute offers or send (important) messages.
The introduction costs of a concept like this are acceptable, hotel owners can even start a test with cheap prepaid SIM cards. I’m sure you will gain extra service points from your guests and the media, a nice instrument for free publicity.
SocialStay – build your own hotelapp
13-5-2011
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SocialStay is a platform for hotels for building, managing and growing a custom mobile environment. SocialStay lets hotels create their own branded mobile apps in minutes. These apps are fully customizable and also automatically integrated with several social media. Hotels can easily notify the guests of discounts or other related special offers, feature as well a “wall” and a “Who’s Here?” section to help guests to connect with each other.
Floor for women only
11-5-2011
The new (yet to be opened) Danish hotel Bella Sky Comwell created a floor specially for female guests. The rooms are women friendly, by making the bathrooms more feminin and giving the rooms a make-up table and a full length mirror. Also the electronics are easier to use.
App shows best spots alongside the Amsterdam canals
29-4-2011
A new, free iPhone application shows people the way on the Amsterdam canals. The application is called ‘Vaarwater’ (free translated as waterway) and is an initiative of Waternet. Besides eight channel routes, the app includes information about the opening of bridges and locks, water taps, places to spend the night, gas stations, bars, marinas and in the near future also hotels.