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.
Paper Phone
10-5-2011
The paper phone uses elnk technology. This is electric paper and is used in e-readers. The phone is fully flexible. The elnk screen is only black and white, and very slow, the good thing is a long battery capacity. The electronic paper is also usable on clothes and they are working on a bracelet, the “Snaplet”, watch the movie.
Easy ordering via the E la Carte
6-5-2011
The new ‘Presto e la Carte’, like the Otoucho which we are familiar with in the Netherlands, is a tablet which is used in restaurants. Through this tablet, guests can watch the menu, ordering dishes, pay the check, but as well play games during the waiting and writing reviews at the end of the dinnerparty. This tablet is not meant as replacement for the human staff, but rather compliment a pre-existing service.
Eggcelent vending machine
4-5-2011
This vending machine was spotted in Japan. Each compartiment holds a net with 10 to 12 fresh eggs, which costs around $3,-. The eggs are from a nearby farmer who fills the machine with the fresh eggs.
Pepsi Social Vending
3-5-2011
The Social Vending machine from Pepsi is connected to a computer network. People can buy a drink like on a normal machine, but they can give away a drink as well. Type the name and telephone number of the recipient on the touch screen and add a text message or personal video. The gift can be picked up at the nearest Social Vending machine.
a self brewed beer in 7 days
2-5-2011
This device can make a beer in 7 days that comparable is with the quality of commercial beers. Twelve of the most common problems with brewing beer are solved at ones with this device. The most important is the carbonation process, temperature control and clarification that are self controlled by the device.
Labour-intensive piano cocktail
29-4-2011
Restaurant L’Ilôt 13 in Genève uses a piano to create cocktails, every cocktail an other melody. It’s pretty labour-intensive that way!
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.
Love for Limburg iPhone app
29-4-2011
The new ‘Liefde voor Limburg’ iPhone app has all asparagus routes in Northern Limburg and shows you the way to the right places for the best asparagus dishes. Besides this information the free app for iPhone users provides a complete overview of the touristic and recreational offers in the region.
