Hotel Expert Slams In-Room Technology: Why Analog Travel Is Making a Comeback
In an era dominated by screens and constant connectivity, a hotel expert is voicing strong criticism against the proliferation of in-room technology in hotels, arguing that it detracts from the guest experience rather than enhancing it. Adam Bloodworth, a features journalist and travel editor, shares his frustrations with convoluted digital systems that have become all too common in modern hospitality.
The Problem with High-Tech Hotel Rooms
Bloodworth recounts a recent stay at the newly opened Treehouse Hotel in Manchester, where rooms are designed to evoke the feeling of arboreal living. However, this rustic illusion was shattered when he attempted to order room service through the television system, which failed to function properly. "I was no longer in a treehouse. I was in a hotel, unable to order my dinner. Technology had ruined it," he explains. This experience highlights a broader issue in the travel industry: the intrusive presence of tablets by beds, remote-controlled curtains, and lighting systems that guests struggle to operate.
With many people already overwhelmed by doom scrolling and online job demands, Bloodworth asserts that hotels should recognize that the last thing travelers need is to navigate complicated in-room technology. He emphasizes that guests do not want to log into smart televisions to order room service or download apps to communicate with reception staff, especially when such interactions might involve AI bots rather than human employees. One hotel in America has even replaced check-in staff with AI bots, raising concerns about the loss of personal touch in hospitality.
A Shift Toward Analog Experiences
Thankfully, there are signs that the hospitality industry is beginning to move away from this tech-heavy approach. The Langley in Buckinghamshire, for instance, is embracing a post-technology era by considering the removal of devices from beside beds. With no bedroom more than 15 meters from reception, the hotel questions why guests would need to type messages when they can simply speak to staff in person. Similarly, some hotels are removing televisions from rooms altogether, offering them only upon request instead of as permanent fixtures.
Auric Road in Palm Springs has taken this a step further by replacing televisions with vintage record players and vinyl collections, catering to guests seeking a more nostalgic and tactile experience. This trend aligns with the growing popularity of "rawdogging" on flights, where passengers forgo headphones and movies to embrace the moment offline. "People have become allergic to tech in hotels," says Jules Perowne, head of luxury PR firm Perowne International. She notes that tech-forward rooms were fashionable a decade ago, during the pre-pandemic era when current hotels were first designed, but now feel outdated amid conversations about screen time and digital detoxing.
The Broader Movement for Digital Detoxing
Perowne criticizes such technology as the vision of "box ticking hotel designers who have no idea what the guest experience is," suggesting that it fails to meet actual traveler needs. The pursuit of analog life extends beyond traditional hotel rooms, with options like Unplugged and Unyoked cabins located deep in British woodlands, far from roads and towns to ensure peace and quiet. These cabins often come equipped with lock boxes to store phones during stays, encouraging guests to disconnect fully.
There may even be romantic benefits to this shift away from technology. Perowne shares an anecdote about a couple whose intimate moment was interrupted when their movements accidentally triggered bright overhead lights controlled by fancy tech. "It ruined the moment. People want a chunky master light switch that just brings darkness rather than fancy tech – one that literally goes clunk when it turns off," she explains. This highlights a desire for simplicity and reliability over flashy, often unreliable digital solutions.
As the hospitality industry evolves, the call for more analog, human-centered experiences is growing louder. With experts like Bloodworth and Perowne advocating for change, hotels may increasingly prioritize guest comfort and connection over technological gimmicks, marking a significant shift in travel trends toward authenticity and digital detoxing.
