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A Peek Inside Some of the World’s Most High-Tech Hotels

Jan. 16, 2017
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3 min read
High-tech Hotel Staffed By Robots Preview In Japan
A Peek Inside Some of the World’s Most High-Tech Hotels
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From the Nintendo Switch, which lets you play Mario Kart at 30,000 feet, to Narita Airport’s smartphone toilet paper, technology and travel go hand-in-hand. But few places seem more excited — or willing to embrace new high-tech ideas — as the hotel industry. Like something out of a sci-fi movie, in the past few years we’ve seen a robot hotel open in Japan, and the debut of the Aloft brand's new “smart room” — a.k.a. Project: Jetson — in Boston. But George (Jetson) and his clan have got nothing on the world’s most high-tech hotels.

Travelers Today recently gave a quick rundown of some of the world’s most futuristic hotels, which are implementing advanced technologies in all sorts of unique ways to improve the customer experience and create a more memorable stay. Selfie-lovers, for instance, have embraced the photo theme at the Blow Up Hall 5050 in Poznań, Poland, where guests are handed an iPhone at check-in, which acts as both a navigational tool and a room key. Its walls are also covered in artwork created by its guests, whose photos are captured upon check-in, then edited into some very cool-looking displays around the hotel.

Say cheese! Image courtesy of Blow Up Hall 5050 Hotel via Facebook.

Creating memories out of photos and videos is also at the heart of the Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine’s decision to offer Google Glass to all of its guests. The hotel, located in Spain’s Duero wine region, was the first hotel in Europe to integrate the product into its property's perks. Here, guests can shoot photos and video with the literal blink of the eye, then keep any photos taken on a memory stick they can bring home after their stay.

A 12th-century setting meets 21st-century technology at Spain's Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine. Image courtesy of Abadia Retuerta LeDomaine via Facebook.

If The Jetsons really did teach us anything about the future, it’s that robots would rule. (We love you, Rosie.) Aloft is hopping aboard the robot train — at least in Silicon Valley, where the brand introduced robot butlers in 2014. And robots are doing much more than running errands at the Henn na Hotel, also known as the Weird Hotel, in Sasebo, Nagaski, Japan, where the hotel is staffed primarily by robots, including the friendly dinosaur pictured at the top of this post. Here, robotic workers will check you in, carry your luggage and see to most of your other needs during your stay — the housekeeping staff, for now, remains human. Check out Motherboard’s visit to the hotel in the video.

What’s the most high-tech feature you’ve ever seen at a hotel? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Featured image by WireImage

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.