Commentary
Amazon Launches Alexa System For Hotels; Marriott Signs Up
- by Chuck Martin , Staff Writer, June 19, 2018
Marriott International is adding Amazon’s Alexa to hotel rooms at select hotels as part of Amazon’s new Alexa for Hospitality program.
Marriott will be installing Amazon Echo devices in select properties at Marriott Hotels, Westin Hotels and Resorts, Aloft Hotels, St. Regis Hotels and Resorts and Autograph Collection Hotels starting this summer.
Travelers will be able to use the smart speakers to ask Alexa for hotel information, request hotel guest services, set alarms, order towels, turn lights on and off, control room temperature, play music, make phone calls and check out. The Charlotte Marriott City Center and Marriott Irvine Spectrum are to be the first hotels to add Alexa for Hospitality features.
Amazon plans to add the ability to connect to personal Amazon accounts, which would link personal contacts and music. Hotels have to request an invitation from Amazon to become part of the program.
Amazon says hotels can use Alexa for Hospitality to measure engagement through analytics and select default music stations from iHeart Radio stations that match their brand.
There was no mention if there ultimately would be any extra charge to guests using Alexa in a room. While travelers can purchase hotel services directly from the property through Alexa, Amazon shopping is not yet available on the devices.
Amazon said hotel properties will not be able to listen to what is said to Alexa or what is said back. That information resides on Amazon servers.
The off button is on top of the device.
Chuck Martin is Editor of the AI & IoT Daily at MediaPost and writes the daily Connected Thinking column. He is a NY Times Business bestselling author and his latest book is “Digital Transformation 3.0” (The New Business-to-Consumer Connections of The Internet of Things.) He is CEO of Net Future Institute and a frequent keynote speaker internationally. Follow him on Twitter @chuckmartin and contact him at Chuck@MediaPost.com.
This is a bad idea. Amazon's motives are completely self serving and the consumer will be taken. You cannot trust Amazon with your complete life journey activities. They will be used against you at some point. And they will be saved in perpetuity.
Throw the Echo in the toilet.
In addition to turning it off, Kerry, the unit can be disconnected and the hotel offers to remove it from a room upon request.
Thanks to Marriott for the heads up on this. I would never stay at any place that has the Alexa eaves dropping system piping every word that is said within audible range and sending all my conversations to Amazon. NO WAY WILL I EVER ALLOW THAT.
I'm already looking for alternate suppliers to replace Amazon. They are one very scary company when you begin looking under the hood. I will never let their listening devcies into my home. Never unless they can prove that it is impossible for them to listen to or record my private conversations. Something they admit to doing.
They are going only into select hotels to start, Sean. Am expecting they will be looking for market feedback.
Good reponses..............i won't even sit in a room with one of those spybots.
I lived in Vegas for 50 years, worked in a Hotel before. What great advantage does this
provide? You don't have to lift a phone receiver to get room service? Yet, it's ALL Ears
and Eyes, recording your life.............to be remembered and eventually used against you.
As the population is continually dumbed-down by it;s fascination with gadgets, there's not a person working a cash register who can give you change without looking at the register or their "smarter" Phone. Just a tip of the iceberg.
You may be right Mark, testing and time will tell.