Amazon is launching a new service for hotels to introduce its voice-controlled assistant Alexa for guests to use in their rooms.
Alexa for Hospitality will allow hotel guests to make verbal requests through an Amazon Echo device, including room service, housekeeping and contacting the property’s concierge.
Through the device, Alexa will also be able to give guests information on the hotel and its services, as well as playing requested music and other functions.
Alexa for Hospitality will initially be launched at selected Marriott International brands from this summer including Marriott Hotels, Westin, St Regis, Aloft and Autograph Collection properties. Two of the launch hotels will be Charlotte Marriott City Center and Marriott Irvine Spectrum in the US.
Amazon says Alexa for Hospitality can also be configured by hotels to allow guests to control and adjust in-room functions, such as lights, blinds, thermostats and TVs.
Another feature will allow hoteliers to give their guests the option to temporarily link their personal Amazon accounts to the Alexa-enabled device in their rooms. This link will be automatically disconnected when the guest checks out of the hotel.
Jennifer Hsieh, Marriott International’s vice president of customer experience innovation, says:
"So many of our guests use voice technology in their home, and we want to extend that convenience to their travel experience.
“We will be evaluating guest feedback and adoption to inform how we expand the skills, features and functionality offered through Alexa in our hotels.”
Amazon said that Alexa for Hospitality was “built to work with existing hotel technologies” to reduce set-up time and costs, and uses features from a range of hotel technology service providers, such as DigiValet, Intelity, Nuvola and Volara.
Alexa for Hospitality can also provide analytics on the services guests are using and requesting, as well as collecting customer feedback.
Daniel Rausch , vice president of Amazon, adds:
“Alexa for Hospitality makes hotel stays a little more like being at home and gives hospitality providers new ways to create memorable stays for their guests.”
Related reading:
Amazon and its return to travel via the back door