Opus Hotel Upgrades Their Phone system with iPhones

During our most recent stay in the Grand Hyatt in downtown Seattle, we were impressed that an iPhone and iPod compatible “iHome” mini stereo system and alarm clock was provided standard our hotel rooms. Unfortunately, the hotel did not provide a smart phone or even an mp3 player.

At the Opus hotel in Yaletown, Vancouver, they appear to be taking it up a notch.

The hotel is offering one iPhone smart phone per room, with data coverage connected to the hotel’s internet and will have the ability to send and receive phone calls internationally, as to avoid roaming charges.

These iPhones will replace the obsolete touch tone wireless phones found in every hotel of the past and marks the start of a new era of technology – one where the normal traveler is expected to be knowledgeable on smart phone usage and touch-screen technology.

Obviously, if you don’t know how to use an iPhone, don’t want to, or already have a smart phone of your own, you can leave the iPhone docked in its iHome. The iPhone is customized with applications that will keep the guest connected to the hotel, offering concierge services and contact information to all of the hotel departments, so the phone can prove as a valuable tool to any guest entering the city for sightseeing or business related events.

Nicholas Gandossi, Opus Vancouver’s general manager, explains that these technologies are a part of life today, and are not so much perks as they are necessities.

Opus was also the first hotel in Canada to offer and iPad 2 in every room.

Opus Vancouver has stepped up their game, topping iHomes with iPads and iPhones. The only question that remains is a simple one: will we be able to keep up?

Hotels Inside of Airports Becoming More Common

Airports have evolved into substantial commercial centers in recent decades with expanding restaurant, bar, and shopping options. The recent trend of on-site hotels has made some major airports even more encompassing (next they'll have elected leaders and their own form of currency).

The chain Yotel, with locations in major European hubs like London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports and Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, provides travelers with the option of renting a room by the hour as needed (not quite the same as other hourly motel options I don't think, but in Amsterdam, who knows?) or for the entire night. A four hour block costs about $45 and an overnight stay runs at roughly $90.

Other hotels inside of airports include the Hyatt Regency inside the Orlando airport, the Marriott in the Tampa airport, and the Sheraton in the Bradley airport in Windsor Locks, Conn.

These higher-end hotel chains have extensive plans to continue to expand the hotel-attached-to-your-terminal market even further. Msnbc reports, "last year, Hilton Hotels & Resorts opened a 320-room hotel inside Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital Airport in China"- and visitors can be sure to visit one of the seven restaurants and bars, 21 meeting rooms, spa, fitness center, and cigar bar.

According to msnbc, "the Hilton chain expects to open hotels at JFK airport in New York and the Frankfurt airport in Germany in December and three more hotels inside airports in Nigeria, in Ghana and in Alberta, Canada, by 2014." This market may prove to be particularly popular for business travelers with little to no time to partake in anything touristy, those with gruelingly long layovers, and people just wanting a shower and a place to freshen up between flights or before a big meeting after arrival.

Find more details here: http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/11/8271262-more-hotels-opening-in-airports