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Tech Savvy Hotels

Author: Talia Salem
November 2009

Top Five

These hotels have technology down pat

Hotels have had to do a sprint to the finish as they catch up with the ever-evolving technology world. Some brands have worked hard to keep pace with the speedy technology monster while other brands have been panting all the way to the finish line or been left in the dust. Here are our top five tech-savvy hotel brands (ordered alphabetically) and a little bit about why we think they are.

  • Andaz: This new Hyatt brand has a stylish and modern slant offering complimentary Wi-Fi, 42-inch flat-screen TVs and more. They also check-in guests remotely using hand-held, electronic tablets and have done away with the formal front desk. Their meeting rooms are fully sound-proofed with individual climate controls, multiple electrical/microphone outlets and 110V/220V single-phase electricity; they also offer an e-host portal. andaz.com
  • Courtyard by Marriott: This affordable hotel brand was ranked “Best Geek Hotels in 2009” by Hotel Chatter. The brand is updating its amenities, offering complimentary Wi-Fi in all public spaces, flat-screen TVs and better business centers to cater to the tech savvy business traveler. The hotel brand has rolled out new high-tech lobbies in many hotels with a GoBoard, with local information, weather and more. marriott.com/courtyard
  • Joie de Vivre Hotels: This California boutique hotel chain is very present on social networks (Twitter, Facebook and YouTube) and they blog regularly and even feature interesting posts from founder Chip Conley. They also offer complimentary Wi-Fi in a majority of their hotel properties (and free Wi-Fi at all properties with Joy of Life Club, JDV's loyalty program) and have an easy-to-navigate, yet informative website. jdvhotels.com
  • Kimpton Hotels: Hotel Chatter ranked this boutique hotelier as top 5 best Wi-Fi because of its reliability, and because it’s free with an InTouch membership, the brand’s no-minimum stay loyalty program. Kimpton also has an easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing website, easy-to-navigate virtual tours of their properties and offers high-tech amenities throughout the hotel and in guest rooms. kimptonhotels.com
  • Starwood Hotels and Resorts: Starwood has integrated technology into all of their brands from the new Link@Sheraton lobbies to their partnership with Microsoft, and from their aggressive social media campaign (both as a brand and on an individual hotel level at properties like the Westin LaCantera) to hotel Internet connectivity. Four Points by Sheraton, Element and Aloft brands now offer free Wi-Fi in guest rooms. starwoodhotels.com

The image to the right is a work station in a guest room at the Hotel Vitale in San Francisco. Image is courtesy of Joie de Vivre Hotels.