US: The Hotel of Tomorrow Project, led by design and development firm The Gettys Group, has conceptualised ideas to support the hospitality industry through COVID-19 and beyond, and is now ready for testing.
Since its launch in June 2020, the 325-member group has hosted online workshops to develop innovative new ideas in response to the challenges facing hospitality businesses in the era of COVID-19.
Now, the group is inviting travellers, designers and more to join the final stage of concept development: consumer testing.
The first concept to be shared and tested, Robot Alliance, will be released on 14 August 2020. Created to enhance the food and beverage experience, robots (small refrigerator/warming units) will follow a guest inside or outside the hotel, then double up as side tables or dining surfaces.
The larger counterparts of these units become gathering hubs, with integrated audiovisual components that allow small groups to enjoy music, watch a movie, or play games together.
Small drones will be used to communicate guests’ needs to a bartending robot – overseen by a skilled mixologist – that can deploy a refreshed unit.
“We all have a curiosity and creative impulse for our future,” said Ron Swidler, chief innovation officer of The Gettys Group, “so we hope to cast a wide net and hear diverse thoughts and opinions to prove and improve concepts that can help this essential industry speed toward recovery and beyond.”
Registration for evaluating the concepts can be found here, and testing will be open through 28 August 2020.
Each concept will undergo further refinement based on consumer feedback, and will be released to the public in September.
Collaborator Larry Taxler, Hilton’s senior vice president of global design, commented: “The Hotel of Tomorrow Project has created a unique and effective forum for exploration and problem-solving across a network of related businesses, all invested in supporting our industry’s future.”
The Gettys Group is a family of hospitality-focused companies. For over 30 years, the group has guided developers, operators and brands in the creation of experiences around the world.
