BEVERLY HILLS, CA— When it comes to keeping in-room beverages cool, there are handful of options for hoteliers.
For its part, Hilton International has a preference for those systems with compressor or thermoelectric cooling systems, according to Walter Bossé, area director of purchasing for North America and the Caribbean.
In fact, Hilton has been replacing the ammonia-based absorption systems it had in guestrooms with the compressor-type minibars since the mid-1990s, Bossé said. “There was some concern with the ammonia-based systems. Ammonia is used as a coolant and in some of the older absorption-type minibars, it was possible that some of the ammonia could be let go into the air, giving off an odor which would not be pleasant for the guests to be exposed to,” he said.
“We had a few failures [where minibars malfunctioned]so the decision was made that any ammonia-based systems should be replaced with non-absorption type minibars,” Bossé said. As a result, 12 Hilton properties in his region now have LOC International Indel B minibars, some of which are the compressor-type and some are thermoelectric.
“Our arrangement with Indel B/LOC International is one whereby they are preferred, but non-exclusive. Other minibar brands are under consideration and these include models from Europe and Asia,” Bossé said.
Minibars using compressor-cooling systems are more efficient than the thermoelectric, Bossé said. This type of system has a eutectic plate that becomes frozen during normal compressor operation and then slowly releases cold while the compressor is shut off. As a result, the compressor only has to operate a few hours a day to freeze the eutectic plate and keep the in-room beverages cold.
Much like a residential refrigerator, a minibar will make noise during its operation. But with a compressor-type minibar, “it is possible to shut it off for 10 to 12 hours so there is no noise at night to disturb the guest,” Bossé said.
To keep the compressor switched off during desired periods, there is an electronic timer in each minibar. The timer has a memory with a selection for pre-set working and rest times which can be selected by remote control.
Minibars with a thermoelectric cooling system have a heating pump that transfers the heat from a cold area to a warm area and then chills the surrounding area. The system is composed of a thermoelectric module, an internal cold sink and an external heat exchanger.
The thermoelectric system has the advantages of quiet operation without vibration and is environmentally friendly since no gases or refrigerants are used.
“The thermoelectric minibars are more common in Northern climates that are not as hot and humid, in Canada, for example where it gets down to five below zero. The compressor minibars are better for warmer climates because they cool more efficiently,” Bossé said.
As for cost, “it varies by size and type and whether the minibar is free standing or built in, but the average cost for the compressor type is $250, while the thermoelectric is a little less than that,” he said.
