TECHNOLOGY : ENTERTAINMENT
The Madison Hotel in
Memphis , Tennessee , offers an " Ultimate Rock Star Package " that includes a stay in either the VIP or presidential suite , both equipped with traveler guitars amplified though Bowers &
Wilkins P7 Mobile Hi- Fi headphones .
HAVE MUSIC , WILL TRAVEL
Entertainment on the road isn ’ t just about television , on-demand movies and streaming media . Another popular form of entertainment , and something often overlooked at hotels , is music . Many travelers come equipped with iPods or other mobile devices pre-loaded with their own music , while others seek tunes provided by the hotel . Either way , a host of solutions are now in play to meet these varying demands . Living up to its name , Hard Rock Hotels has been developing multiple music-related amenities , starting with a process where upon making a reservation , guests choose which genre of music they prefer . Upon arriving at their room after check-in , a curated playlist of music from that specified genre is already playing in the room . And the company has extended the strategy to also integrate with mobile devices .
“ We thought , ‘ Wouldn ’ t it be cool if there was a code behind your key packet , so you get a streaming station opportunity for free for 30 days , and a station that is unique to Hard Rock ,’” recalls Andrea Melotti , Hard Rock ’ s vice president of operations for hotels and casinos . “ So we formed an agreement with our friends at Rdio and we ’ re going to start doing that in the next few months . You download the app from Rdio and automatically you have a streaming station curated by Hard Rock .”
These kinds of amenities are also crucial for the Madison Hotel in Memphis , Tennessee , a city that lives and breathes music . Beyond just the listening needs of everyday guests , the luxury property frequently hosts touring musicians passing through town , and has even tailored in-room perks specifically for these customers . The hotel offers an " Ultimate Rock Star Package " that includes a stay in either the VIP or presidential suite , both equipped with traveler guitars amplified though Bowers & Wilkins P7 Mobile Hi-Fi headphones . Guests can take guitars home after their stays , as well .
“ We actually placed them in the lobby first , and guests were constantly picking them up and playing them ,” says Angie Hines , general manager at the Madison Hotel .
And , if you don ’ t happen to play guitar , that doesn ’ t mean you can ’ t enjoy someone else ’ s music while at the hotel . Hines added the Madison ’ s guestrooms feature Bowers & Wilkins ’ Zeppelin Air , an innovative speaker system that enables both iPod and iPhone docking , as well as wireless streaming of music from these and other devices .“ This gives you quick , easy access to your music , whether you play it wirelessly or put your iPod in the docking station . We have that in all of our guestrooms , as well as iPod dock clocks ,” Hines says . “ We ’ re in Memphis , so music ’ s ingrained in the city . It ’ s our legacy ; it ’ s who we are .”
64 HOTELS November 2015 www . hotelsmag . com