The Hotel Room of the Future: Using Your Smartphone to Customize Your Room
In the next decade, hoteliers may be using technology to tailor your room to your preferences right down to the lighting, air conditioning and perhaps even the color of the room.

According to the ITB World Trends Report, you´ll be able to enter your own profile, either via a PIN on your smartphone or by using biometric authentification, and the room will automatically adjust variables to suit your preferences.

The hotel room of the future will be designed to aid relaxation, according to the study, with curves instead of sharp edges, smart energy beds and wall displays whose screens let guests connect with different communications channels. Business travelers could work via these screens. (Source: ITB press release).

U.S. Hotels Report Rates, Occupancies Continue to Rise
The USA hotel industry saw occupancy increase 9% to 53.3% in November, according to STR, which provides global hotel performance data. Average daily rates rose 2.5% to $96.70.

And revenue per room rose 11.8%. Room rate growth accelerated across most hotel segments, with the luxury segment showing the greatest increase: 5.8%. PKF-HR´s Hotel Horizons industry forecast said that while ADR has grown, it will continue to lag the recovering. (Source: STR, PKF press releases).

Hilton HHonors Offers Up to Quadruple Points
Hilton HHonors guest loyalty program, which includes more than 3,600 hotels, is running a new global promotion: More Nights, More Points, through March 31. Members can receive up to quadruple points for stays in participating hotels. Stay two nights, earn double points. Stay three nights, earn triple points.

Stay four nights and earn quadruple points. Members can earn both HHonor points and airline miles for the same stay at participating hotels. (Source: Hilton press release).

Wyndham Baltimore Peabody Court Hotel, located in historic Mount Vernon Square, has opened a new chapter in its legacy. The 104-room hotel has become the city´s first hotel in five years to fly the Wyndham flag. Major upgrades to the rooms include the latest HD flat panel TVs and the upgraded Wyndham amenity package.

InterContinental Hotels Group, has roots in Venezuela tracing back to the early 1950´s, announces the opening of the InterContinental Maracaibo. It will be IHG's 21st InterContinental Hotels & Resorts property in Latin America and the Caribbean. The InterContinental Maracaibo has picturesque views of Venezuela´s famous Lake Maracaibo, and is located near the city´s newest commercial and residential districts, within walking distance of business centers, banks, corporate offices, shopping and recreation.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts announced the completion of the first phase of the 322-unit Koloa Landing at Poipu Beach Wyndham Grand Resort, the brand´s first new build project in Hawaii. Phase One includes the opening of 85 villas, lagoon pools, and fitness center.

When completed, the resort will feature a central pool with water slide, poolside bar and grill, sand bottom area, cascading waterfalls and swim-through grotto, lagoon-style pools, several hot tubs, fitness center, day spa, covered parking and semiprivate elevators to each front door.

Business Travel in the Spot Light

Business travel continues its rebound, according to the American Express Business Travel’s 2010 third quarter Business Travel Monitor North America. Pricing power is shifting toward suppliers, leading toward higher prices for both air and hotel. Airlines have been especially successful in limiting capacity and increasing fares.

• Year over year, average domestic fares are up six percent.
• Average international fares are up eight percent.
• Hotel rates are up three percent domestically.
• U.S. cities with the highest year-over-year rate increases: New York, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and San Francisco.

Both brands expect to be completely smoke-free in the U.S. and Canada by Dec 31. The two Starwood brands have begun converting all smoking guest rooms to nonsmoking rooms in preparation for the new policy.

Major Hotel Chains´ Internet services

Best Western
Free Internet is a standard in the United States. The brand is working on making it a standard in Europe.

Carlson Hotels
Began phasing in free Internet service as an in-room amenity at Radisson Hotels & Resorts in 2005 and into Latin America this year. Some lobbies offer free WiFi.

Hilton
Extended Stay, mid-price brands offer free Internet access. Individual upscale properties offer free access.

Hyatt
Upscale properties generally charge for Internet access. Midprice Hyatt Place offers free WiFi throughout hotels.

Intercontinental
Holiday Inn offers free Internet access. Extended stay brand Staybridge Suites made WiFi a free amenity in both the lobby and in rooms this year. Upscale properties generally charge for in-room service, although some offer free lobby Internet.

Marriott
Introduced free high-speed and WiFi to guest rooms three years ago at its midprice and extended stay brands and this summer announced that it is eliminating WiFi charges for guests in public areas. Upscale and luxury brands still charge for Internet Service.

Omni
Among the first upscale brands to make free WiFi a brand standard

Starwood
Four Points by Sheraton offers free wired and wireless Internet access. Many W Hotels offer free WiFi access, but in-room Internet connections usually carry a charge.

Wyndham
Free Internet access for mid-priced brands. Select upscale properties give Wyndham ByRequest members access.