IHG Pilots Voice Controlled Smart Hotel Room
Using automation systems from Josh.ai, the room allows guests to explore the possibilities of AI-connected devices in hospitality
IHG Hotels and Resorts is partnering with Josh.ai, a maker of voice controlled automation systems, to design a voice-controlled smart hotel room. The project’s pilot room at the Kimpton Rowan hotel in Palm Springs, CA, features Josh.ai software with purpose-built natural language processing.
According to IHG, the software understands multiple requests in one command, uses deep-linking to search for specific music and video content, and enables location and contextual awareness. In addition, more capabilities are available through the intuitively designed Josh app.
To enable guests to control of virtually every aspect of their experience, the hotel room employs connected devices that are typically found in luxury smart homes, including:
- Josh Micro provides convenient and secure automation of the room, and in addition introduces built-in hotel concierge responses.
- Ketra Lighting, by Lutron, makes its hotel room debut with tunable lighting that transitions with the natural rhythms of daylight, giving guests control of color temperature from warm to cool, as well as vibrancy and saturation.
- Lutron shades provide privacy while balancing exposure to daylight in the bathroom.
- Sonos speakers with an Arc soundbar provide surround sound for TV watching, and access to any genre, album, artist, or song.
- Samsung’s Frame TV transforms from an art piece to a high performance 4K QLED display.
- DISH TV offers guests a fully integrated live entertainment experience with the power of voice or tactile control.
- Roku provides access to popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and more.
- IPORT powers Josh.ai’s manual control of the room with its sophisticated iPad mounting solution.
IHG is the first global hotel company to deploy Josh.ai. According to the hotel company, Josh.ai is the only artificial intelligence platform on the market committed to privacy, data security, and natural interactions with connected living spaces.
As another facet of its technology initiative, this spring IHG announced the launch of touchless check-in at more than 3,000 North American-based hotels. The hotel group said it is piloting the technology in other regions of the world with plans to roll these capabilities out across 4,500 hotels and resorts globally.
IHG branded property in the US or Canada will now likely have the option of checking into their hotel stay via their mobile devices, computers and tablets. The technology is launching at some 3,000 hotels and resorts across the U.S. and Canada.
“We are constantly exploring next-generation technology to give guests epic experiences as they return to our hotels,” said Brian McGuinness, SVP, global guest experience shared services at IHG Hotels & Resorts. “Josh.ai has never been used in a hotel room before and we look forward to discovering how AI can be more widely adopted by our properties around the world.”
See an interactive digital tour of the hotel room of the future here.
