Room service: Is it time for upscale hotels to reinvent room service? Yes, according to Travel Update readers.
In our completely unscientific poll of 38 votes, 83% of respondents said they’d like to see hotels change the manner in which food is delivered to their hotel room. It’s worth noting that a prior Facebook poll I’d done asking the same question showed similar results.
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Here are the results from our poll, as of 9:35 a.m. EST today:
Overhaul it! I’d rather have room service that’s faster, cheaper and similar to the take-out that I often order from Panera Bread, Starbucks or a Chinese restaurant. I don’t need the fuss – (83%, 24 Votes)
Keep it the way it is! I’ve enjoyed room service for years, and want it to stay the same way – delivered to my room on a tray or rolling cart with real silverware by a waiter. I don’t mind paying (17%, 14 Votes)
The Hilton New York – New York City’s largest hotel with some 2,000 rooms – recently confirmed to TravelUpdate.com that its nearly year-old experiment with a Panera Bread-style room service concept is a financial success. And that is a strong indicator that we’ll see more hotels follow suit. Two large Marriott hotels are also experimenting with a newfangled room service model.
New York-based food and restaurant consultant Michael Whiteman told me recently that he sees this concept taking off in other four-star hotels. It cuts costs for hotels, plus it can cut inconveniences for consumers, he said.
“No more carts to set up, no more sterno-filled hot boxes, no intrusive waiters while you’re still in your underwear,” Whiteman said.
Readers: Do you think some hotels have particularly great – or not great – room service?
