If you are comfortably aboard the smart home train, you’re likely accustomed to having your lights, thermostat, and smart devices catering to your precise preferences. The hospitality industry gets it, and many hotels are now using technology to enhance the guest experience. A few smart hotels are leading the pack, making stays more comfortable, more personalized, and a whole lot more high tech.

Traveling smarter is about more than where you stay though. The Allyz® TravelSmart app is an ideal complement for high IQ accommodations as it helps you access plan information, check in on claims, find hospitals, and more — all from your phone.

Ready to experience some of the globe’s most cutting-edge smart hotels? Read on…

YOTEL. New York City, New York.

YOTEL is located in Midtown Manhattan and is a mere three blocks from Time Square. Mentioning that space is limited in New York is cliché at this point, and with the YOTEL’s guest rooms averaging just 170 sq. ft, the hotel needed to outsmart the space challenges. YOTEL helps you save floor space with their Yobot, a luggage storage system that’s on display in the lobby and uses a 20-ft. mechanical arm to safely stow your bags.¹ In addition, each room features a SmartBed, which converts from a luxury bed by night to a futon by day to give you floor space when you need it. With speedy WiFi coursing through the entire hotel and ample USB ports, you can plug in and charge up wherever you are.² And when you’re ready to call it a night in the city that never sleeps, YOTEL has a solution for that, too. Each room has a smart TV, equipped with a 30-minute meditation designed to help you wind down from the energy of the city so that you can get some restful shuteye.¹ 

Aloft Hotel. Cupertino, California.

Located in California’s iconic Silicon Valley, Aloft Hotel primarily appeals to business travelers. Just 10 minutes from Apple’s headquarters, Aloft begins with offerings you might expect: an Apple TV in every room. Then there are the more unexpected details, including the clever in-house robot, named Botlr. Craving late-night room service but can’t fathom making small talk with a human? The hotel’s staff will load up Botlr with your order, after which it boards the elevator and then politely waits at your door for you to offload your food. Botlr can also deliver you towels to the pool or bring you forgotten toiletries.³ The robot brings major starship vibes to the smart hotel, but try to resist the urge to sneak him home in your suitcase. 

Wynn Resort. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Planning a trip to Vegas but worried about having separation anxiety from your Amazon Echo? The Wynn smart hotel has you covered, with an Amazon Echo in each one of their 4,700 rooms.¹ There’s never a need to call down to the front desk for basic services. Simply ask Alexa to set the room to “do-not-disturb” for housekeeping, or request a wake-up call. You can also use the Echo to adjust the lights, temperature, curtains, and music to customize the room to your preferences without lifting a finger.³ Using your voice to make the room feel just right can help you focus on more important things, such as choosing the loosest slot machine or preparing your bluff game before stepping into the poker room.

Henn Na Hotel. Tokyo, Japan.

Tokyo is the largest metropolitan city in the world and is known for its flair. The Henn Na Hotel is no exception, it mixing smart technology with a hefty dose of quirkiness. When you arrive, you are checked in by robots. But not just standard robots, of course; you’ll be greeted by animatronic velociraptors.¹ The dinosaurs certainly make a statement, but the experience doesn’t end there. This smart hotel uses robots throughout your stay for room service and to help with your bags. In your room itself, you’ll find a mini robot concierge that can give you the weather and other helpful tourist information.⁴ You’ll also get a free smartphone with unlimited data to use throughout your stay. Plus, your room will have an LGStyler, a machine that uses steam to freshen up clothes, perfect for anything that got wrinkled in your suitcase.⁴

If you tend to lean on tech and gadgets to make your day-to-day routine more convenient, why would your vacations or business trips be any different? Treat yourself to a uniquely customized experience with these smart hotels. Savvy travelers like you know that smart travel is insured travel, so be sure to find the Allianz Travel Insurance plan that best fits the bill.

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