14 DAY TRIAL // It was only a matter of time, but it's finally happening: hotels across the world have started offering guests Surface tablets to get easier access to hotel services, such as room service and laundry.
Microsoft today announced a deal with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, which agreed to put Surface Pro tablets in guest rooms of four of its hotels, namely those in London, Washington DC, Las Vegas, and Tokyo.
These tablets will have a custom lock screen and apps that would allow guests to benefit from easier servicing while staying at the hotel.
“As a brand known for our legendary hospitality, we’re always pushing ourselves to create unique, premium guest experiences,” said Monika Nerger, CIO of Mandarin Oriental.
“We are currently operating in 25 countries, and with our expansion into new markets we needed a powerful, secure, yet easy-to-manage solution with robust language support, which Microsoft technologies can offer. Through this partnership we can create digital experiences that cater to our guests’ needs and expectations whenever they stay with us.”
Microsoft says that so far everything goes according to the plan and the early feedback collected by the hotel shows that guests are actually finding these tablets very helpful.
As a result, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will soon start a new pilot program that would include an additional 1,000 tablets, including the new Surface Pro 3. Microsoft says that this is going to happen in the near future, so if you're staying at one of the aforementioned hotels, don't be too surprised if you find Redmond's new-generation tablet in your room.
What's interesting is that guests are also allowed to log in with their own Microsoft accounts and get emails and access personal files stored on OneDrive. When the checkout is officially processed, the device is automatically wiped clean of personal guest data and the original data, with hotel information and apps, is restored to make sure that the next guest is provided with the same experience.
“Through the Microsoft platform, we have a bespoke digital experience that allows guests to easily place a complex meal order and request other guest services with a touch of the finger,” Nerger said. “Early feedback from our guests has been extremely positive, and we will continue to tailor the solution as we extend the tablet deployment to more of our markets, with an initial target installation of 1,000 tablets across the portfolio in the near future.”