BETHESDA, MD—Marriott Hotels is coming clean about its latest innovation quest, helping guests capture their moments of inspiration—in the shower. Who hasn’t come up with a brilliant idea while shampooing, and then forgets it by the time they are rinsing?
After learning—via a 2017 Marriott International survey of 5,000 international travelers—that more than half of business travelers (51%) feel that their best ideas come while showering, Marriott Hotels is testing a one-of-a-kind technology that allows guests to scribe or sketch their brilliant ideas and send it to themselves before they get washed down the drain, according to the brand. The experience will be available to guests for two months at the newly redesigned Marriott Hotels Irvine, CA.
Here’s how it works: Guests start their shower as usual and as steam builds up, it creates a canvas on the door. As the creativity starts flowing, guests simply use their finger to write or draw whatever comes to mind—name of the next hit song, idea for an app or the framework for a new design—using the steam. Touch-sensitive technology built into the shower door then sends the fresh idea to the guest’s email, where they can share it via email or social to enable further brainstorming.
RELATED: HB ON THE SCENE: Marriott, Legrand, Samsung Reveal IoT Guestroom of the Future
“Marriott Hotels promises to embrace the pace of change. We are constantly looking for new ways to use technology to enhance our guest experience. Our M Beta hotel in Charlotte started our journey of testing and trying, and this shower door technology pushes the limit of our thinking in an imaginative and fun way,” said Matthew Carroll, VP and global brand manager, Marriott Hotels.
Located in the heart of Orange County, the Marriott Irvine is designed with the tech-savvy traveler in mind, which makes it a natural place to debut the Splash of Brilliance shower, according to the company. Marriott will determine any further rollout based on usage, feedback and satisfaction scores from guests staying in the Splash of Brilliance room.
The Marriott Hotels brand has embarked on a journey of transformation, evolving everything from hotel design to new dining concepts to associate training—all in an effort to address the changing tastes of travelers. According to the brand, this global refresh focuses on providing guests with forward-thinking experiences and aesthetically inspiring spaces that speak to their inventive nature and help spark some of their best thinking.