A new software company, Runtriz,hopes to use the iPhone and iPod Touch to make it hip to carry these
gadgets when you stay at your next hotel. An article in the Washington
Post highlights the test of the "Hotel Revolution" product from Runtriz at the Malibu Beach Inn in Malibu, CA. The "Hotel Evolution"
application can either be loaded onto a guests existing iPhone or iPod
Touch, or in the case of the Malibu Beach Inn, the guest is loaned an
iPod Touch if they don't own their own. The software makes it possible
for the guest to order room service, book spa treatments, retreive
their message and set wake up calls. There are other options as well. This could turn into a gold mine for hoteliers, especially those in the upscale and above categories.
This
is what I call bringing convenience to your hotel stay. Runtriz says
that since the application is web based it will eventually be released
for Blackberries and other cell phone platforms, like Google's Android. Imagine not being tied to making a call from your guest room when you want to have room service in the room when you arrive from a business trip. How about being able to schedule spa treatments while out shopping. Really, you can put the convenience and power of the hotel's concierge staff at the finger tips of your guest.
The cost can be a bit pricey. The first month is around $20/room with subsequent months around $10/room. The price does vary by hotel.
This is the first application of it's kind that I have seen. How about you? Any exciting mobile technology we should be talking about on eComm Insights?
