Gone are the days of fumbling around with temperamental hotel key cards, losing sleep to noisy neighbours and battling with erratic air conditioning. A raft of futuristic hotels are shaking up the hospitality industry — one piece of high-tech wizardry at a time.
From robot butlers to beds that deliver on-demand body massages, if you’re after a city break with a difference, treat yourself to an innovation vacation at one of these out-of-this-world hotels.
The Hotel Puerta America, Madrid
In the heart of the Spanish capital is one of the world’s most ambitious design hotels: the rainbow-coloured Hotel Puerta. It’s the work of 19 leading architects, including four Pritzker Prize winners (the Nobel Prize of architecture), with suites created by design titans Zaha Hadid and Jean Nouvel. Each of the 12 floors is unique. Our favourite, the science fiction-themed first floor (the work of the late Hadid), gives off strong Tardis vibes. Looking to order room service? At the touch of a button, LED strips on the bedroom doors transmit requests directly to hotel staff. Alternatively, head to the seventh floor for rooms straight out of a Bond movie where TVs unfold from the ceiling and large LCD screens allow guests to customise artwork.
Rooms from £93 a night; Hotelpuertamerica.com
Best Western Premier Sofia Hotel, Sofia
One for the introverts. Never speak to a human being again with Roomy, BW’s robot butler. Available 24/7, Roomy will escort you to your digs, deliver midnight snacks and serve your welcome bubbles. Ask Roomy for the restaurant or Technogym fitness centre and its advanced navigation system will have you there in minutes. Currently proficient in three languages — Chinese, English and Korean — Roomy’s other talents include greeting guests, singing happy birthday and belting out Christmas songs.
Rooms from £57 a night; Bestwestern.co.uk
Cityhub Amsterdam, Amsterdam
Forget trad hotel rooms and bed down in one of Cityhub’s futuristic pods. Get in that Amsterdam state of mind with trippy mood lighting, integrated wake up alarm systems and music streaming. On arrival, clip on a RFID wristband so you can check-in and out virtually, and help yourself to a cocktail (or two) at the self-service bar. For real-time city updates from locals, download the CityHub smartphone app which provides everything you could possibly need to know about the city.
Rooms from £42 a night; cityhub.com
Eccleston Square Hotel, London
Don’t be fooled by the charming Georgian Grade II-listed exterior. From the 49-inch Samsung TVs hidden behind bathroom mirrors to the smart glass shower walls that become frosted at the touch of a button and the digital concierge, every part of the hotel experience has been enhanced with cutting edge technology. The best tech treat? The Hästens electronically adjustable bed, kitted out with knot-busting massage functions.
Rooms from £190 a night; ecclestonsquarehotel.com
Kameha Grand, Zurich
Channel your inner astronaut fantasies with a stay in Kameha Grand’s space suite. This immersive experience will transport you to the heart of an international space station — but rest assured, there’s no chance of your late-night minibar purchases floating away. A sensory delight, the room features zero-gravity floating beds, celestial artwork and space-lit on the shelves. Don’t forget to switch on your personal extra-terrestrial TV and tune into the live Nasa TV feed, streamed from the International Space Station.
Rooms from £124 a night; kamehagrandzuerich.com
room2 Chiswick, London
Over in leafy west London, room2 puts state-of-the-art technology to an entirely different use in the world’s first net zero hotel. Outside, solar panels and a living roof set the bar for inside, where standout features include motion sensors and electricity usage trackers in the bedrooms. Described as a “hometel”, the thoughtfully designed rooms and studios feature bespoke handcrafted pieces from local artists and designers.
Rooms from £124 a night; room2.com/chiswick
