Who would have thought we would someday find robots doing the work of hotel bellmen? Or wristwatches supplying us with travel directions? At Starwood Hotels, a successful experiment has just been completed that sends a human-like robot to make deliveries to guest rooms. Call the front desk to report that you neglected to bring a toothbrush, and the front desk clerk will program a human-like robot to roll down the corridor to the elevators, enter and press the proper floor button, and then roll down an upstairs corridor to your room, knock on the door, and present you with a toothbrush--saving the equivalent work of a human being.
In a similar futuristic travel development, Apple Computer has announced that its new "smartwatch", scheduled to appear for sale in early 2015, will permit a motorist to follow the GPS directions of his or her computer-like wristwatch. Equipped with a mechanism that produces one type of vibration for a right turn, one for a left turn, it will permit the motorist to remain attentive to the road, while following the vibrations felt on the motorist's wrist. Other futuristic functions of this "wearable" mini-computer remain to be disclosed when the "smartwatch" is actually introduced next year.
Marriott Hotels is following a less mechanical route to achieve an unusual policy development on behalf of its chambermaids. Instead of simply raising the notoriously-low-level of salaries for its female room cleaners (which I would have thought was the proper thing to do), many of its hotels will now leave a printed envelope in the room, reminding guests of their moral obligation to leave a tip for their chambermaid. The envelope will be placed in a prominent position on the desk found in each room, hard to overlook. Who needs a robot or a smartwatch?
Sunset Magazine, published on the west coast for inhabitants of the 12 western states, has announced a contest for the best little-known resort hotel in the west, the best but little kown area for excellent wineries, the best, lightly-visited national park. Winners of the contest will be announced in June of 2015, for persons finding a copy of Sunset on their nearest newsstand or accessing the magazine's website, Sunset.com.
And finally, just when it appeared that Spirit Airlines had exhausted all the various opportunities to impose unexpected fees and charges on its passengers, the controversial airline has discovered the ultimate fee: a $2 surcharge added to all its many standard fees during popular holiday periods. Thus, during Christmas, you will pay $27, not $25, for checking a suitcase on each flight. And you will pay an extra $2 when you encounter fees for using an overhead rack, phoning a telephone reservationist, occupying a middle seat (yes, that's charged, too!), ordering a bottle of mineral water or juice, and several others. Travel is becoming an activity of many wholly-unexpected developments.
