No.10 - Pod Hotel, New York City
230 East 51st St., NYC, NY 10022, US
Tel: 1-212-355-0300
ThePodHotel.com
Targeted at the younger traveler, New York's Pod Hotel combines comfort with a funky and modern design that fits the Big Apple perfectly. The proprietors have come up with the neat idea of an in-house Pod Community Blog, open to those with reservations at the hotel. It allows guests and guests-to-be to interact, ask questions and exchange information. The blog also includes a Survival Guide, which is essentially an up-to-date list of affordable and fun things to do in the Big Apple. The hotel itself is sure to satisfy the tech-hungry budget traveler with its free Wi-Fi, LCD flatscreen TVs and iPod docking stations.
No.9 - Element Hotels, nationwide (U.S.)
Starwoodhotels.com/element/
There's a growing trend in the hotel industry toward incorporating environmentally friendly tech to the list of amenities. Indeed, Element Hotels is committed to gaining LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council through the careful design and operation of its buildings. Rooms at Element Hotels feature ambient lighting made possible with energy efficient light bulbs, as well as specially designed, cutting-edge low flow rain showers that minimize water wastage. All rooms have state of the art kitchens too, equipped with modern, energy-efficient appliances. Soon, guests will be supplied with a Nintendo DS console loaded with Personal Trainer: Cooking software which will have even the most cooking-challenged whipping up sophisticated dishes in no time in the eco-friendly kitchen.
No.8 - Montage, Beverly Hills, California
225 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Tel: 1-310-860-7800
MontageBeverlyHills.com
Let's start with a real practical feature for the guys: a fog-free shaving mirror in all bathrooms. The montage is a luxuriously elegant establishment that this year became one of the first hotels in the world to receive Gold level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for its use of, for example, energy efficient heating, lighting and air conditioning systems. Even the Otis Gen2 Elevators use 50% less energy compared to conventional types. And don't worry, you've still got all the great tech stuff you'd expect in your room, including that fog-free shaving mirror.
No.7 - Mama Shelter, Paris
109 rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris, France
Tel: 33 (0)1 43 48 48 48
MamaShelter.com
Once a parking garage and now a Philippe Strack-designed boutique hotel, Mama Shelter has a 24-inch iMac in each one of its 172 rooms. The iMac acts as your entertainment center, and there's free Wi-Fi available too. Something else the rooms at Mama Shelter have that you won't find in most other hotels is a microwave oven. Who knows when you might want to heat up your poulet rôti en cocotte. In the dining area you'll find a number of digital tables, which are basically horizontal TVs broadcasting various channels, and there's even an iMac photo booth where you can take your picture and watch as it’s projected to screens all around the restaurant. Don’t knock it till you try it -- most people go for it.
No.6 - The Upper House, Hong Kong
Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2918-1838
UpperHouse.com
Checking in with the aid of a tablet PC gives you a hint of things to come when you stay at The Upper House in Hong Kong. All guests at this virtually paperless hotel are supplied with an iPod touch preloaded with games, music and everything you need to know about the hotel and its environs. As you'd expect, there's free and unlimited broadband access; even the hotel's cars (Lexus RX450H hybrid models) are equipped with Wi-Fi. Video-on-demand provides an extensive choice of movies for watching on the massive 42” LCD TVs. There's a smaller one in the bathroom too, so you can relax in the tub while watching John Woo's spectacular Hard Boiled. Just make sure your skin doesn't go all wrinkly.
No.5 - Blow Up Hall, Poznan, Poland
ul. kosciuszki 42, 61-891 Poznan, Poland
Tel: 48 61 657 99 80
BlowUpHall5050.com
Blow Up Hall is a snazzy establishment described as an electronic art hotel. Renowned artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has created an intriguing video installation around which the design of the hotel is based. The moment you step inside, you're a performer in the video being played in the lobby comprising 2,400 tiny images gathered from as many cameras inside the hotel. No keys or door numbers here, just iPhones. Every guest is supplied with an Apple phone which, through recognition tech, you use to gain access to your room. You can also use it to call your concierge, surf the net and view preloaded local tourist info. With its stunning interiors and innovative mix of art and tech, Blow Up Hall may just blow your mind.
No.4 - The Peninsula Hotel, Tokyo
1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0006, Japan
Tel: +81 (0)3 6270 2888
Peninsula.com
No list of tech hotels would be complete without a representative from Japan, the country with more gadgetry on a single street than most countries have in their entire capital city. The Peninsula takes its tech so seriously that it even has an electronics service department. Rooms have internet radio boasting 3,000 stations -- you might need the room for a couple of months to get through that lot. The “do not disturb” sign has been retired to the great door knob in the sky and replaced by a light outside the door, activated by a button beside your bed (strategically placed, if you ask us). Mood lighting controls allow you to play about with the ambience of the room, presumably just after you've switched on the “do not disturb” light. Every room also has wireless phones with Skype capability that you can use throughout the hotel. Lastly, there's a nail polish drier. Sure, it's unlikely we guys will be needing it, but it just shows that The Peninsula is thinking of even the tiniest of details when it comes to tech.
No.3 - Hotel 1000, Seattle
1000 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
Tel: 1-206-957-1000
Hotel1000Seattle.com
In any ordinary hotel, seeing water pour from the ceiling would have you calling reception in a panic, but Hotel 1000 is anything but ordinary. Here, it simply means you're filling the bathtub. Besides innovative plumbing, Hotel 1000 also boasts a “silent electronic doorbell” system -- housekeeping staff push a button at your door which sets off an infrared scanner inside your room. If it detects any movement, an electronic “do not disturb” sign appears and the housekeeper knows to come back later. There's also a button inside the room should you wish to activate the sign manually. As for the minibar, once it's empty it cleverly communicates with the front desk so they know to come and refill it with some more goodies. You've also got Cisco video phones around the hotel, a host of media hubs, hi-def video-on-demand, temperature control utilizing infrared tech, color display VoIP phones in every room... and more.
No.2 - Hotel Sax, Chicago
333 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60654
Tel: +1 312 245 0333
HotelSaxChicago.com
If tech were honey then this establishment would likely be the stickiest hotel on the planet. For starters there's the free Wi-Fi, and the wide-screen TVs are so massive that you could be forgiven for thinking they might at any moment pull down the very wall to which they're attached. Then there's the 6th floor Studio Lounge, free for all guests, where you can relax on big sofas or play Rock band, Wii games and Guitar Hero. The Chairman's Suite includes a 65” HDTV as well as three smaller screens, and an automated media and lighting system. Guests each receive a laptop and Zune MP3 player for use during their stay. The hotel also has tech studios and tech suites. Finally, there's also the Boardroom, a conference room kitted out with cutting-edge technology.
No.1 - Helix Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Zayed Bay, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Leeser.com
The Helix Hotel is so far ahead of its time that it hasn't even been built yet. Leeser Architecture's jaw-dropping design features a beautifully distinctive shape and a striking spiraling interior. Its hi-tech credentials come in the form of heat and energy conservation, using the latest innovations in its design. State of the art GROW panels, which harness energy from the sun and wind, will be affixed to the outside of the hotel. The temperature and humidity inside the 208-room hotel is set to be managed by, of all things, a waterfall situated in the atrium. There will also be a giant glass wall that will periodically slide open, allowing a fresh sea breeze to blow in, keeping the air circulating inside the building. If the illustrations for the Helix Hotel are anything to go by, it's pretty much a given that its rooms will be maxing out in the tech department too.
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230 East 51st St., NYC, NY 10022, US
Tel: 1-212-355-0300
ThePodHotel.com
Targeted at the younger traveler, New York's Pod Hotel combines comfort with a funky and modern design that fits the Big Apple perfectly. The proprietors have come up with the neat idea of an in-house Pod Community Blog, open to those with reservations at the hotel. It allows guests and guests-to-be to interact, ask questions and exchange information. The blog also includes a Survival Guide, which is essentially an up-to-date list of affordable and fun things to do in the Big Apple. The hotel itself is sure to satisfy the tech-hungry budget traveler with its free Wi-Fi, LCD flatscreen TVs and iPod docking stations.
No.9 - Element Hotels, nationwide (U.S.)
Starwoodhotels.com/element/
There's a growing trend in the hotel industry toward incorporating environmentally friendly tech to the list of amenities. Indeed, Element Hotels is committed to gaining LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council through the careful design and operation of its buildings. Rooms at Element Hotels feature ambient lighting made possible with energy efficient light bulbs, as well as specially designed, cutting-edge low flow rain showers that minimize water wastage. All rooms have state of the art kitchens too, equipped with modern, energy-efficient appliances. Soon, guests will be supplied with a Nintendo DS console loaded with Personal Trainer: Cooking software which will have even the most cooking-challenged whipping up sophisticated dishes in no time in the eco-friendly kitchen.
No.8 - Montage, Beverly Hills, California
225 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Tel: 1-310-860-7800
MontageBeverlyHills.com
Let's start with a real practical feature for the guys: a fog-free shaving mirror in all bathrooms. The montage is a luxuriously elegant establishment that this year became one of the first hotels in the world to receive Gold level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for its use of, for example, energy efficient heating, lighting and air conditioning systems. Even the Otis Gen2 Elevators use 50% less energy compared to conventional types. And don't worry, you've still got all the great tech stuff you'd expect in your room, including that fog-free shaving mirror.
No.7 - Mama Shelter, Paris
109 rue de Bagnolet, 75020 Paris, France
Tel: 33 (0)1 43 48 48 48
MamaShelter.com
Once a parking garage and now a Philippe Strack-designed boutique hotel, Mama Shelter has a 24-inch iMac in each one of its 172 rooms. The iMac acts as your entertainment center, and there's free Wi-Fi available too. Something else the rooms at Mama Shelter have that you won't find in most other hotels is a microwave oven. Who knows when you might want to heat up your poulet rôti en cocotte. In the dining area you'll find a number of digital tables, which are basically horizontal TVs broadcasting various channels, and there's even an iMac photo booth where you can take your picture and watch as it’s projected to screens all around the restaurant. Don’t knock it till you try it -- most people go for it.
No.6 - The Upper House, Hong Kong
Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2918-1838
UpperHouse.com
Checking in with the aid of a tablet PC gives you a hint of things to come when you stay at The Upper House in Hong Kong. All guests at this virtually paperless hotel are supplied with an iPod touch preloaded with games, music and everything you need to know about the hotel and its environs. As you'd expect, there's free and unlimited broadband access; even the hotel's cars (Lexus RX450H hybrid models) are equipped with Wi-Fi. Video-on-demand provides an extensive choice of movies for watching on the massive 42” LCD TVs. There's a smaller one in the bathroom too, so you can relax in the tub while watching John Woo's spectacular Hard Boiled. Just make sure your skin doesn't go all wrinkly.
No.5 - Blow Up Hall, Poznan, Poland
ul. kosciuszki 42, 61-891 Poznan, Poland
Tel: 48 61 657 99 80
BlowUpHall5050.com
Blow Up Hall is a snazzy establishment described as an electronic art hotel. Renowned artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has created an intriguing video installation around which the design of the hotel is based. The moment you step inside, you're a performer in the video being played in the lobby comprising 2,400 tiny images gathered from as many cameras inside the hotel. No keys or door numbers here, just iPhones. Every guest is supplied with an Apple phone which, through recognition tech, you use to gain access to your room. You can also use it to call your concierge, surf the net and view preloaded local tourist info. With its stunning interiors and innovative mix of art and tech, Blow Up Hall may just blow your mind.
No.4 - The Peninsula Hotel, Tokyo
1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0006, Japan
Tel: +81 (0)3 6270 2888
Peninsula.com
No list of tech hotels would be complete without a representative from Japan, the country with more gadgetry on a single street than most countries have in their entire capital city. The Peninsula takes its tech so seriously that it even has an electronics service department. Rooms have internet radio boasting 3,000 stations -- you might need the room for a couple of months to get through that lot. The “do not disturb” sign has been retired to the great door knob in the sky and replaced by a light outside the door, activated by a button beside your bed (strategically placed, if you ask us). Mood lighting controls allow you to play about with the ambience of the room, presumably just after you've switched on the “do not disturb” light. Every room also has wireless phones with Skype capability that you can use throughout the hotel. Lastly, there's a nail polish drier. Sure, it's unlikely we guys will be needing it, but it just shows that The Peninsula is thinking of even the tiniest of details when it comes to tech.
No.3 - Hotel 1000, Seattle
1000 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
Tel: 1-206-957-1000
Hotel1000Seattle.com
In any ordinary hotel, seeing water pour from the ceiling would have you calling reception in a panic, but Hotel 1000 is anything but ordinary. Here, it simply means you're filling the bathtub. Besides innovative plumbing, Hotel 1000 also boasts a “silent electronic doorbell” system -- housekeeping staff push a button at your door which sets off an infrared scanner inside your room. If it detects any movement, an electronic “do not disturb” sign appears and the housekeeper knows to come back later. There's also a button inside the room should you wish to activate the sign manually. As for the minibar, once it's empty it cleverly communicates with the front desk so they know to come and refill it with some more goodies. You've also got Cisco video phones around the hotel, a host of media hubs, hi-def video-on-demand, temperature control utilizing infrared tech, color display VoIP phones in every room... and more.
No.2 - Hotel Sax, Chicago
333 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60654
Tel: +1 312 245 0333
HotelSaxChicago.com
If tech were honey then this establishment would likely be the stickiest hotel on the planet. For starters there's the free Wi-Fi, and the wide-screen TVs are so massive that you could be forgiven for thinking they might at any moment pull down the very wall to which they're attached. Then there's the 6th floor Studio Lounge, free for all guests, where you can relax on big sofas or play Rock band, Wii games and Guitar Hero. The Chairman's Suite includes a 65” HDTV as well as three smaller screens, and an automated media and lighting system. Guests each receive a laptop and Zune MP3 player for use during their stay. The hotel also has tech studios and tech suites. Finally, there's also the Boardroom, a conference room kitted out with cutting-edge technology.
No.1 - Helix Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Zayed Bay, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Leeser.com
The Helix Hotel is so far ahead of its time that it hasn't even been built yet. Leeser Architecture's jaw-dropping design features a beautifully distinctive shape and a striking spiraling interior. Its hi-tech credentials come in the form of heat and energy conservation, using the latest innovations in its design. State of the art GROW panels, which harness energy from the sun and wind, will be affixed to the outside of the hotel. The temperature and humidity inside the 208-room hotel is set to be managed by, of all things, a waterfall situated in the atrium. There will also be a giant glass wall that will periodically slide open, allowing a fresh sea breeze to blow in, keeping the air circulating inside the building. If the illustrations for the Helix Hotel are anything to go by, it's pretty much a given that its rooms will be maxing out in the tech department too.
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