Read about the fully digital hotel that is set to open in London, England. A first for Northern Europe.
Ibis Styles London Gloucester Road Hotel is the hottest place in England right now. If you’re up to hearing about this newly-designed hotel and are ready to plan a trip to look forward to, look no further.
If London wasn’t cool enough, Accor introduces us to the first fully digital hotel to hit Northern Europe, in the heart of South Kensington. Inspired by historic Kensington, yet designed with the future in mind, this hotel is sure to please everyone on your list.
Given a score of 100 out of 100 for location, the hotel is within short walking distance of gardens, museums, shops and multiple restaurants. Not to mention it’s closeby to Kensington Palace, where members of the Royal Family, reside.
For all you tech-lovers out there, you will be amazed by the most modern, up-to-date technology that is featured at ibis Styles London. For a generation (mainly millennials or Gen X and Y) who use their smartphone for basically everything, the new contemporary-designed digital hotel encompasses trendy with practicality.
With online, contactless check-in and checkout and accessibility for people with reduced mobility, this hotel is not only the smart way to travel, but safe and efficient too. Perfect for during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Features include online and mobile check-in and checkout, digital food and beverage services and guest relations services available through WhatsApp. The hotel is also an ALLSAFE Bureau Veritas Certified & Cashless Hotel so payment and expense management is available through your smartphone. Even unlocking your room is fully digitized whereas instead of a key card, you simply wave your smartphone to enter your room!
Hotel management comments, “this is not about robots or faceless technology, this is about the smart integration of innovative, customer-facing technology at pace and at scale. Technology is part of our daily lives and is now fully part of our hotel experience–and with this important step, we give our guests the opportunity to adapt their hotel stay according to their preferences.”
As the first fully digital hotel in Northern Europe, ibis Styles adds to the growing number of global digital hotels and this emerging trend continues to expand. For instance, more hotels are integrating digital kiosks for check-in and check-out (similar to airports and fast-food restaurants). In-room digital outlets are also integrated into guest suites, greeting guests with a virtual concierge, having easy-to-access online daily news outlets and more, keeping us as connected as possible while away from home. Using your smartphone as your room key isn’t an entirely new concept either, as Starwood Hotels and Resorts were the first to introduce us to “SPG Keyless” allowing guests to scan their smartphone using their app to open their rooms (how cool is that?!).
I don’t know about you, but I am so ready to travel. Digitalization definitely has it’s pros and cons however, I’m super excited to be able to use more technology (my smartphone) for all my travel needs in the near future. For a person who is prone to losing things (wallets, hotel key cards, etc.) it’s just one less thing to worry about! Now I’ll be sure to look out for digital hotels when booking my next place to stay. London, here I come!
Happy (future) travels and stay safe everyone.
