Hotel Technology Next Generation

PolyU Launches Tomorrow’s Guestrooms at Hotel ICON
(Fourth from left) Mr Terence Ronson, Chairman of “Tomorrow’s Guestrooms” competition, Mr Richard Hatter, General Manager of Hotel ICON, Dr Basak Denizci Guillet, Assistant Professor of SHTM and Coordinator of the “Tomorrow’s Guestrooms” project, and Professor Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor of SHTM, with the representatives of the eight winning companies.

PolyU Launches Tomorrow’s Guestrooms at Hotel ICON
With TELY, the call agent can communicate visually with the guests by pushing media and information like room service, dining, way finding, etc. in real-time to the television screen.

PolyU Launches Tomorrow’s Guestrooms at Hotel ICON
Fitted with energy efficient compressors using an eco-friendly refrigerant and equipped with detection capabilities, Neobar can maximize efficiency of minibar operation and optimize guest service by analyzing their consumption behaviour.

PolyU Launches Tomorrow’s Guestrooms at Hotel ICON
iFlyPad works on all smartphones and tablets, providing a comfortable, ergonomic viewing experience for users.

PolyU Launches Tomorrow’s Guestrooms at Hotel ICON
GCC is not only a multiple charging station, but also an IP speakerphone and can be the room Internet access point.

Hotel suppliers and providers in design, technology and well-being who would like to play a part in shaping tomorrow's guestrooms were invited to share their products and knowledge through this exceptional platform. "We looked for innovations in the submissions and the response from the industry was overwhelming," said Dr Basak Denizci Guillet, Assistant Professor of SHTM and Coordinator of the "Tomorrow's Guestrooms" project.

Highlighting the importance of industry's participation, Mr Terence Ronson, Chairman of "Tomorrow's Guestrooms" competition, said, "It is essential that the development of 'Tomorrow's Guestrooms' involves collaboration between the School and industry partners in such a way that it continues to serve as a platform to innovate, develop and showcase new technologies, hotel designs and business concepts in hotel management."

Entrants were reviewed by an expert panel and winners have been granted the unique opportunity for their products and services to be tested and researched in three dedicated guestrooms at Hotel ICON for a period of six months.

The list of winners and their winning entries are listed and briefly described as follows:

Fitted with energy efficient compressors using an eco-friendly refrigerant and equipped with detection capabilities, Neobar can maximize efficiency of minibar operation and optimize guest service.

HD weave carpet is produced by a patented carpet loom that can weave up to 32 colours, offering hospitality industry unrivalled design definition and colour choice.

Using electro-magnetic induction technology, the dock works with all kinds of smart devices with built-in speakers. It also comes with USB charger ports and alarm clock.

GCC is more than a bedside device. In addition to multiple charging station, it is also an IP speakerphone and can be the room Internet access point.

The wireless locking system not only provides real-time control over the guestrooms, but also allows cell phone to act as contactless data carrier to open and control access controlled doors.

With TELY, the call agent can communicate visually with the guests by pushing media and information like room service, dining, way finding, etc. in real-time to the television screen.

iFlyPad works on all smartphones and tablets, providing a comfortable, ergonomic viewing experience for users. It can be used in many locations from back seats of flights to suitable surfaces in bathroom and kitchen.

Through the cloud-based television system, the guests can experience the hotel by viewing its offerings and city attractions, and stream their own music, videos and pictures wirelessly to the television.

"Hong Kong is a city of innovation and it has a tradition of introducing innovations in the hotel industry," Mr Richard Hatter, General Manager of Hotel ICON, observed. "With 'Tomorrow's Guestrooms', Hotel ICON will be at the forefront of such innovation."

Cutting-edge research contributes to further improve and drive excellence in the hospitality industry. With the establishment of Hotel ICON, the breadth and scale of research undertaken at SHTM has expanded. "The 'Tomorrow's Guestrooms' are created to facilitate more in-depth research into the application of advanced concepts in the field of hotel management for the advancement of the entire industry," said Professor Kaye Chon, Dean and Chair Professor of SHTM and Chairman of "Tomorrow's Guestrooms" competition. "We are proud to support the industry and tomorrow's hoteliers in this innovative way."

The three "Tomorrow's Guestrooms" are now open for reservation. Interested parties, please contact Dr Basak Denizci Guillet via e-mail: basak.denizci@polyu.edu.hk

SHTM also wishes to thank Hotel Management Asia (www.hotelmanagement.net) being the exclusive media partner for the "Tomorrow's Guestrooms" competition.

For more than four decades, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality and Tourism Management" category in ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024 for the eighth consecutive year; placed No. 1 globally in the "Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services" category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2023/2024 for seven years in a row; rated No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism" subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017; and ranked No. 1 in Asia in the "Hospitality and Leisure Management" subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of over 90 faculty members from 21 countries and regions around the world, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School's groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, and inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Contact
Pauline Ngan
Senior Marketing Manager
Phone: +852 3400 2634
Email: pauline.ngan@polyu.edu.hk

Organization
School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
www.polyu.edu.hk/htm/
17 Science Museum Road
Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon
Hong Kong (SAR)
Phone: +852-3400-2200
Fax: +852-2362-9362
Email: hminfo@polyu.edu.hk