Hilton Tests the Home Theater Hotel Room

[admin]

Ever wonder why you never see 5.1 systems in a hotel room. I mean, it doesn't cost much to put in even a basic system - so why not spec it into the build of a new facility? Ok, I'm "geeking out" as a certain friend of mine would say... but why not? Apparently someone at Hilton Hotels agrees with me. They've launched home theater-like "Sight+Sound Rooms" at two test-bed hotels. This includes a couple dozen guest rooms at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare International Airport and even more at the Hilton in San Francisco.


Discuss "Hilton Tests the Home Theater Hotel Room" here. Read the article.

[highfihoney]

I think its an excellent & profitable idea,there are alot of people who travel alot & stay in hotels for more than a day or two who would love having an HT system to help pass the time.

I go in spurts where i stay in hotels for extended periods & having the option of an HT at one of the hotels would be the deciding factor on where i chose to stay,even if it cost more.

One things for sure,making it work would depend on how they trained their sales/desk staff on what type of customer to push the product on.

[Warpdrv]

Lets not forget about the marketing side of this thought process, more money for the theater room, and how about the services you have to pay for to use it.

Watch this HD movie, press OK ... Its only $19.99 or more.

[Jack Hammer]

I think it's a great idea. I noticed that they are promoting it to a wide audience. I think mentioning MP3 connectivity and the ability to watch sporting events on a 42" widescreen hdtv, plus directv access will make this catch on with the general traveling public. It really seemed like they were going more after that target market than they were the ht crowd. I bet the buying of porn movies doubles in those rooms.

Jack

[Clint DeBoer]

I think they'll make their money back, due to business-expensed trips... But I don't think it will "catch on" or become mainstream. Total investment is only about ~$4000/room I would guess.

[birdonthebeach]

I just don't want to be in the room next door after a long day of travel when some idiot orders up Spiderman 3 on PPV at 2 am and cranks the sub....

[Buckeye_Nut]

I look at this from a different vantage point......


IE... the person in the room next to you will now want to turn their sound higher

Unless they take serious soundproofing measures(which will never happen to the extent necessary), this is not a good idea...IMO.

When I travel.... I do NOT want to hear noise coming from neighboring rooms!!

PS..... the above might give me flashbacks from when I was a college kid living in a dorm

My vote is for................ "JUST SAY NO" to hotel surround sound.

[Buckeye_Nut]

I just don't want to be in the room next door after a long day of travel when some idiot orders up Spiderman 3 on PPV at 2 am and cranks the sub....

double ditto....

[Jack Hammer]

I couldn't find any mention of a subwoofer in the setup, just the Yamaha ysp 800. In case any one isn't familiar with that model, it's the one with a bunch of 1.5" speakers on front and two 4" woofers and it is a sound projector, I think that's what it is called. There are no actual surround speakers behind you, it simulates surround sound from the front speakers. Also, no dvd player is included, you have to bring your own.

I just called the Chicago-Ohare Hilton and they didn't know if there was a subwoofer, they said it's a brand new room and they'd have to check. They offered to call me back buy I declined. The rates are only ~$20 more than normal per night, but the room rates fluctuate quite a bit. I didn't think to ask about soundproofing. Being that it's an airport hotel, I'd think there is already a certain level of soundproofing in each room, probably outside soundproofing.

Jack

[highfihoney]

When I travel.... I do NOT want to hear noise coming from neighboring rooms!!

Good luck on that one

Im about 50/50 for getting placed next to morons,drunks & couples who slam stuff around,like the head board.

My worst was in Paramus New Jersey,2 days after i checked in for a 6 week stay a construction crew moved into the hotel & started renovating the rooms,these fools would sleep till 10 am & start work at noon then work up until midnight.

I asked the manager what was wrong with his head allowing them to work at all hours of the night,he told me in a deep joisey accent to just deal with it,as soon as he found out i was the guy paying for 23 other people for 6 weeks he changed his tune & made them stop working at 5pm.