Hotel Technologies' In-room iHome Recognized as 'Best-in-Show' at CES

Hotel Technologies was named an "Innovations Honoree" at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for its new iHome HiDM5 Executive Workstations, a wireless Bluetooth® stereo keyboard with speaker phone that enables guests to get away yet stay connected. The iHome HiDM5 was also named "Best in Show" by iLounge for its "rare combination of great design, features, and pricing."

The unit, which will roll out to the hospitality industry in March exclusively from American Hotel Register, is compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled tablets and smartphones to give travelers a true audio and communications solution.  It is a keyboard and speaker system with wireless functionality that streams music from an iPhone, iPod, iPad or other Bluetooth-enabled device, allowing guests to talk and type, or type and listen to music at the same time.
 
It offers a built-in microphone and speaker for calls and videoconferencing, and compatibility with all iOS and Android Bluetooth-enabled devices.

Study Shows Tablets are In Demand
According to the Hospitality Technology 2nd Annual Lodging Technology Study, the most IT dollars in 2012 will be spent on guestroom technologies (20.18 percent of respondents). Of those who responded to the query, 38.8 percent said investing in guestroom technologies is "extremely important," and 50.9 percent view the in-room project as "important."

A leading trend to note is the use and implementation of tablet computers provided as an in-room amenity. Respondents' implementation plans show that 5 percent already provide in-room tablets, while another 5 percent will offer such a device within the next 6-12 months, 11 percent within the next 12 to 14 months, and 7 percent in 36 months or more, putting the overall market footprint for guest room tablets at 29 percent in three years. In other words, nearly one-third of hotel executives plan to offer tablet computers in guestrooms within the next three years. The study was conducted by Hospitality Technology magazine in conjunction with the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Iowa State University, University of South Florida and University of Central Florida.