This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
From smartphone hotel room unlocking to robot butlers, we’ve already seen quite a bit of innovation when it comes to select Starwood brands. TPG Editor-in-Chief Zach Honig dropped by One Star Point (Starwood’s world headquarters) for a look at other technologies coming soon to a hotel near you.
If you walk into an early adopter’s home, you might find smartphone controls for lighting and air conditioning, full-color LED light bulbs and even keyless entry at the front door. Using the home of the future as a guide, Starwood is looking to up its high-tech game at several entry-level brands, giving it an edge over Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and other superchains in what’s likely the most competitive hotel landscape ever.
Below you’ll find 10 technologies that Starwood plans to roll out within the next five years (if not sooner) at Aloft, Element and Four Points by Sheraton hotels. If you’re looking to book an SPG stay, consider picking up the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, which currently offers 25,000 bonus Starpoints after you spend $3,000 within the first three months, enough for more than 10 free nights at Category 1 Aloft and Element hotels.
1. Smartphone Control
The Aloft room of the future might include LED lighting (more on that below) with in-wall controls, but perhaps the most exciting addition is smartphone control of the room, letting you set the temperature, control the TV and even brew a pot of coffee all through a Starwood app.
2. Colored LED Lights
Starwood is currently working with Philips, one of its many manufacturer partners, to build out a commercial solution similar to the company’s Hue consumer lightbulbs. With these full-color LED bulbs in place, guests will be able to select their color preferences or use mood lighting presets, such as warmer light to wake up in the morning and cooler (or multi-colored) lights to wind down at night.
3. USB Power Outlets
Perhaps one of the most exciting (and practical) additions, the Element demo room has a pair of USB outlets installed throughout the room, including at each bedside table, making it easy to charge devices without moving furniture to dig for a free power jack.
4. Larger TVs
I usually prefer to explore the city I’m visiting rather than watch TV in a hotel room, but business travelers often travel to the same destination week after week, opting to unwind with a TV show or movie each night instead. In this hotel room, Starwood is testing larger models, such as this giant Samsung TV. Meanwhile, a Four Points by Sheraton demo guest room down the hall has side-by-side panels with dual headphones, letting you and your roommate watch different programming before bed.
5. Smart Mirrors
Most guests would be happy just to have a large standing mirror at all, but Starwood could takes things up a notch with these smart mirrors, which let you review news, stock info and a weather forecast as you’re getting ready to start your day.
6. In-Carpet Tracking
Perhaps a bit more far-fetched than some of Starwood’s other ideas, this concept employs an RFID tag like the one seen above to track your movements. As your elevator door opens up, for example, a tag in the carpet could recognize that you’re there and illuminate an in-floor guide light to help you find your room. Similar tags in a hotel room could turn on a bathroom light when you get out of bed at night.
7. High-Tech Gyms
Starwood plans to roll out these high-tech exercise bikes in select hotels beginning later this year. This current iteration, developed by Oculus, requires a tethered computer, but new models from Samsung could provide a more seamless experience. Content is still in the works, but I tried it out by riding on a seaside trail in Spain — perhaps something I wouldn’t try at home, but an experience I might welcome in a hotel.
8. Virtual Reality in the Lobby
Similar to the exercise concept seen above, this iteration could let you experience local activities — such as skydiving, zip lining or even snorkeling — as you sit in the hotel lobby, allowing concierge staff to demo different offerings before you book. Hotels could also use Samsung’s Gear VR headset to highlight other content, such as concerts at other properties.
9. SPG Keyless
Starwood has already begun to roll out SPG Keyless, allowing you to bypass the front desk at check-in and unlock your hotel room using a smartphone instead of a traditional key. There are currently 123 hotels online, and the chain expects to offer the service at all Aloft, Element and W hotels by the end of this year.
Botlr, Starwood’s robot butler, is currently roaming the halls at the Aloft Cupertino and Aloft Silicon Valley. Hotel staff can deploy Botlr to deliver items directly to guests rooms, including replacements for necessities left at home and snacks from the lobby.
The Points Guy Assessment:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great pick for the beginner and the frequent traveler. The CSP has superb travel benefits, double points on certain purchases, and a 50,000 point sign up bonus. The $95 annual fee is waived the first year so this puts it as one of the less expensive cards, while still allowing you to earn one of the most valuable point currencies.
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® named a 'Best Travel Credit Card' by MONEY® Magazine, 2016-2017
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $625 toward travel
- No blackout dates or travel restrictions - as long as there's a seat on the flight, you can book it through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
