Monday Mashups: Keep Your Eye Out for Alexa This Summer

Amazon announced it has developed Alexa for Hospitality, a new edition of its smart speaker for hotels and vacation rental companies. The voice-activated virtual assistant device that many people have adopted in their homes to play music, keep track of their schedules, and give them news headlines and weather reports is making its way into hotel rooms. Amazon says these are among the functions Alexa can offer to hotel guests if they ask:

• Controlling smart room devices, such as lights, curtains, the thermostat, and television set
• Ordering and playing music
• Booking spa appointments
• Calling the concierge for recommendations
• Booking reservations
• Finding out where hotel amenities such as the restaurant and pool, are located, as well as what their hours are
• Learning how to access the Wi-Fi networks
• Setting timers, wake up calls and more
• Calling maintenance and housekeeping for towels, refreshments, etc.

So far, Marriott International has signed on to test the new product this summer at select properties in several of its brands. Among the specific hotels that Alexa is testing the product: the Charlotte Marriott City Center in North Carolina and the Marriott Irvine Spectrum in California. It will also be featuring the product in eight other U.S. properties among brands such as Westin Hotels and Resorts, St. Regis Hotels and Resorts, Aloft Hotels, and its Autograph Collection of independent hotels. Two Roads Hospitality is trying out Alexa for Hospitality at two of its properties, Thompson Seattle and The Liaison Capitol Hill, a Joie de Vivre hotel in Washington, D.C. as well.

The company plans to roll out Alexa for Hospitality at additional North American properties throughout this year and into 2019. It may even expand it internationally. "Natural voice commands will enable efficient check-outs, in-room dining and housekeeping requests, voice-activated valet services and in-room control of lighting, temperature and more," says Andrew Arthurs, senior vice president and chief information officer for Two Roads Hospitality. "Guests may now get quick answers to many of their question—such as the hotel's Wi-Fi password and restaurant hours—without having to pick up the phone, dial and wait for a response. In the meantime, our staff spends less time on the phone and more time with our guests."

The future of hospitality is here and her name is Alexa! Keep your eye out for the voice-activated virtual assistant this summer at select hotels and devour the details of a forward-thinking vacation!