City tour technology to enhance your guests’ experience

Today’s successful hotel is much more than a place to rest for a few hours; it is an ambassador to a city. Whether guests are visiting the destination for the first time or returning to a favorite locale, a hotel builds loyalty by welcoming them as part of the community.

The Eurostars Hotels group is taking an innovative path to endear their Barcelona guests to the Catalan way of life. Many of their properties are lending guests MP3 players pre-programmed by Tourism Radio with a “Walking Tour” of over 100 of the city’s attractions. Armed with headsets and maps, visitors can listen in five different languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian and German) and trek around for 15 hours on one battery charge.

If sight-seeing by foot isn’t your thing, Hotel Miramar near Las Ramblas offers a guest package featuring the use of a “talking” Go Car. This banana-colored electric mini-mobile has no roof or doors (passengers must wear helmets) and provides GPS-guided audio tours based upon the car’s location in the city. Anyone over 21 with a driving license can rent one – but zooming along at 30mph tops means you’re safe and have time to absorb Barcelona’s sites and flavors. Or become part of the scenery yourself… Go Cars are also available in San Francisco, San Diego, Miami and Lisbon.

How can your hotel help guests explore your city? Are versions of these services available in your town – and could providing them give you a competitive edge?