Marriott's M Beta Hotel Uses Technology to Create a More Personalized Experience for Guests

2/13/2017
While technology constantly evolves and changes, the hotel experience has been less nimble and not as fast to transform. To address this issue, Marriott created the "M Beta" hotel in Charlotte, N.C. It's vision was to create a revolutionary hotel model that puts innovation at the forefront and the traveler as the co-pilot. From check-in to check-out, using advanced technology, Marriott seeks to create an innovative, modern and personalized experience for hotel guests unlike any other hospitality offering in the industry. The hotel partnered with LG Business Solutions to recreate the hotel experience, one space at a time, gaining feedback from guests as they experience innovations in real time.
 
Marriott revamped its guest rooms so that each room highlights technology as a vital component for both business and leisure travelers. Each of the 444 guest rooms feature a 55-inch LG hotel LED TV, serving as the hub for in-room information and entertainment. The TVs feature LG’s Pro:Idiom and Pro:Centric guest room platforms, as well as LG’s set-top box technology powering Marriot’s guest information platform. Hotel and local area information is at guests’ fingertips right in their room.
 
Further enhancing the in-room experience, the TVs allow guests to stream content from their smart devices onto the big screen – including Netflix, Hulu, TED talks, YouTube, Pandora and more. By allowing guests to view their own content on the big screen in their room, the hotel was able to make guests feel "at home."
 
Marriott also overhauled its fitness center. Today, travelers are looking for more flexible solutions to their workouts on the road. Existing fitness centers typically house limited, aging equipment and uninspiring spaces and guests are often forced to bring their own connected devices, such as iPads and laptops, to studio spaces to stream content.
 
Leveraging LG display technology to address this challenge, Marriott implemented a 3x3 video wall of 47-inch class LG display panels and an LG soundbar in the newly renovated fitness center. By marrying state-of-the-art video, flexible space and sound technology with compelling third-party content from Fitness on Demand, which offers over 1600 free classes, Marriott transformed the hotel fitness experience.
 
“By pairing Fitness on Demand’s expansive catalogue of popular workouts and LG’s cutting edge display and audio technology, Marriott is taking the lead in providing an elevated health club experience,” says Kenneth Ryan, vice president, global spa operations, Marriott International.
 
Marriott also recognized the limited comfortable gathering and meeting spaces as a pain point for many travelers. Whether guests want to have a drink, share a meal, or just unwind with a few friends, hotels often don’t offer a solution beyond traditional restaurants and bars.
 
Recognizing that when friends and family gather at home they tend to congregate in the kitchen, Marriott created a proof of concept at the Charlotte hotel’s modern and open meeting space around a full residential kitchen with premium LG Studio kitchen appliances.
 
The suite of built-in appliances with design inspired by LG Studio Artistic Adviser Nate Berkus includes the LG Studio 42-inch side-by-side refrigerator, 36-inch counter-depth French Door refrigerator, 30-inch double wall oven, dishwasher and microwave oven.  Further enhancing this common area, Marriott installed a number of LG OLED TVs with wide viewing angles and incredible picture performance to help guests unwind.
 
“The LG Studio Kitchen provides a residential-feel kitchen so that our guests can meet and collaborate as they would at home. The foundation is sleek and chic products – from the kitchen appliances to the televisions, that allows us to use the space as it was intended – as a gathering area,” says Alli Beane, senior director, design and development, Marriott International.
 
As guests stroll throughout the property, LG’s immersive and innovative technology is present. From the check-in area, where guests can use an LG touchscreen monitor to find their reservation, to the exclusive M Club, where VIP guests can enjoy 75- and 65-inch LG displays, to the board room with LG’s interactive digital display to conduct meetings.
 
“Partnering with the right technology provider was a significant factor in the transformation of this hotel. We’re thrilled LG was able to bring our vision to life in Charlotte,” adds Crissy Wright, general manager, Marriott Charlotte City Center.
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