Ready Traveler One: You'll soon be able to stay in a video game-themed hotel
Nostalgic for the good old days? If you're a gamer, you can soon revel in days gone by in an Atari-themed hotel.
Atari no doubt is betting on its former customers, now all grown up, to make its travel industry debut a success. The iconic video game company and its signature Atari 2600 gaming console was a mainstay of entertainment culture for several decades, still alive to this day thanks to fan tributes such as 2018's cult blockbuster, "Ready Player One."
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The "world-class video game-themed hotels" are a collaboration with experiential agency GSD Group and developer True North Studio, with Atari earning 5% of all Atari Hotels revenue.
"Some of the rooms will have a retro style, while others could be inspired by 'Ready Player One,'" GSD Group CEO Shelly Murphy told CNN.
Murphy and business partner Napoleon Smith III are no stranger to this sentimental era of nostalgia. Smith produced the 2014 reboot of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie, reviving the beloved franchise for a new generation.
“When creating this brand-new hotel concept, we knew that Atari would be the perfect way to give guests the nostalgic and retro-meets-modern look and feel we were going for," Smith said in a statement. "Let’s face it, how cool will it be to stay inside an Atari?"
The first property is scheduled to break ground in Phoenix sometime this year, while other locations are planned for Austin, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco and San Jose, California. The prototype image included in the press release depicts the stylized Atari logo outlined in sleek red neon against the side of the otherwise ordinary facade.
For gamers, at least, the property's true allure lies within: The hotel will integrate virtual and augmented reality experiences throughout, including state-of-the-art venues and studios for hosting electronic sports, or esport events, in some locations, as well as party rooms set up with 10 gaming consoles. The founders envision "affordably priced" rooms with premium upgrades available for travelers who may wish to host video game sleepovers. (Sign us up!)
Related: Best credit cards for entertainment spending
Video games are big business, especially in Asia, where esports are more popular than many athletic sports. More than 2.5 billion gamers worldwide spent over $152.1 billion on games in 2019 alone, according to Atari Hotels — nearly a 10% increase year on year.
"One of the most distinctive trends in gaming is gamers gravitating toward recognizable intellectual property," according to a statement about the forthcoming property, and "Atari Hotels will offer consumers exactly that, marrying the origins of gaming and the future of the booming industry into a fun and unique travel destination."
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- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
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- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
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Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
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Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees