Self-assembling rooms, robot butlers and tailor-made dreams predicted for the hotels of the future
– Dr. James Canton
The hotels of 2060 will self-assemble and morph from one design to another based on the votes of their guests, a leading futurist has predicted in a study on how the hospitality industry is likely to change over the next 43 years.
Dr. James Canton of the Institute for Global Futures – a think tank that advises Global Fortune 500 companies on emerging trends in innovation and technology – predicts that within the next two decades, nanotechnology and 3D printing will develop to a stage where environments, buildings and “entire physical worlds” can alter their own layout.
Temporary pop-up hotels could be commissioned by public vote with the theme, design and location decided all via crowdsourcing.
The projection is one of several that feature in the newly-published Hotels of the Future study, commissioned by booking company Hotel.com to look one year, 25 years and over 40 years into the future.
According to the study, the hotel guests of the future will expect to be served by robot butlers and to stay in intelligent hotel rooms in which “super-tech meets super-science.” They will enter their room via facial recognition and every surface will be touchscreen, reactive and interactive, with entertainment also provided by augmented reality and personalised holographic experiences. 3D makers will generate items guests desire in real-time, “such as a new pair of shoes, clothes, pharmaceuticals, even computers or wearable phones.”
Wellness is central to this future vision. Guests will wear multiple sensors to ensure all their physical and wellbeing requirements are provided for. Neuro-enhanced aromas will sprout from interactive spa walls that sense stress and auto-generate a relaxing sleep experience. Towels will have pollution-clearing nano-coatings, temperatures will be controlled automatically and beds and pillows will self-assemble to maximise comfort.
Explaining his findings, Canton said: "Trends in technology, science, energy and entertainment will vastly change the hotel experience for travellers. The emergence of a new travel design science, which is a combination of using big data, artificial intelligence and predicting travellers' dreams, will mean the whole travel experience will change."
Neuro-dreaming – choose your own dream
“The definition of getting a good night’s sleep will change. A hotel bed will no longer just be place to enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep, as future travellers will be able to choose their own dreams before dozing off. Hotels will give guests access to neurotechnology to programme their dreams and they can choose a dream theme to either relax, learn or enjoy. Romantic adventure or space exploration?”
Wellness & longevity hotel spas
“The spa 2.0 - the next generation of wellness spas – will be mind blowing. Gone are the days of a simple facial or massage at a hotel spa. The hotel spa of the future is based on DNA analysis and promotes living longer. You will receive personalised prevention treatments, prediction and health enhancement programmes designed to refresh your health, your fitness and understand your future health risks. These will use the latest genetic medical treatments and mind-refreshing drugs to improve brain fitness and prevent disease.”
Robobutlers
“These autonomous robots can be designed online before arrival and can be programmed with special talents, skills, languages and information to help make the hotel stay exceptional. They will do everything from greeting guests at the airport, to offering gourmet food service, room makeup, companionship, education, entertainment.”
EcoHotels on the next level
“Hotels already focus on sustainability and being eco-friendly, but in the future every hotel will be fully sustainable. They'll excel in energy efficiency, buy and sell off the Renewable Energy Grid, use safe and clean products only, use the latest solar and geothermal technology and have a carbon-neutral footprint. EcoHotels will be socially aware, with products and workers all producing a positive social impact.”
How the hotel of the future might look
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