Showcased in earlyOctober at the Holiday Inn Mayfair was the "hotel room of the future". It was the result of Holiday Inn's collaboration with interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen of TV series, Changing Rooms. Designed "with the five senses and eco-friendly materials in mind", the aim was to make the room a home away from home.
And it's quite a home. Instead of uniform flooring in each room, there is a fibre-optic carpet that can be programmed to different settings; "vending pods" containing food and drink tailored to the guest's tastes; and a Wall of Entertainment, allowing guests to participate in an aerobics class or run a marathon in the city of their choice. While you work out, a treadmill provides a calorie count, body weight and blood pressure. If that sounds too exhausting, the Wall of Entertainment will also provide over 1,000 TV channels, movies and games. And after a hard day's work, the room can be transformed into a cosy lounge space by converting the bed into a seating area, and even changing the colour of the bed curtains.
In creating the room, Llewelyn-Bowen says he tried to "ensure responsible use of space, energy and resources," an idea brought to life in the vertical garden, which gives the illusion of expansive foliage without occupying much space.
The compact Shower Spa Area contains a variety of functions, all of which ? including the toilet seat ? are sensory controlled and use minimal water resources. Guests may choose a revitalising shower massage, an aromatherapy mist or even a foot massage.
Perhaps alarmingly, Llewelyn-Bowen believes "business travellers will probably see lengthier stays during their trips," and to meet their needs, the room includes a multi-function table with a computer, built-in keyboard functions and a touch screen. The working area doubles as a dressing table, and the computer screen, when not in use, transforms into a mirror.
"It's a very optimistic view," said Stephen Powell, senior vice president sales and marketing of Intercontinental Hotels Group. (Holiday Inn is the largest brand within the Intercontinental Hotels Group.) "It's not Blade Runner or The Matrix."
Melissa Ozkurt
