Hotels get wired

By CNN's Richard Quest

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HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Marriott Hotels has become the latest hotel group to include more technology in their hotel rooms to accommodate the multi-media savvy traveler.

Until now, we have had to drag our own speakers with us (not very convenient) and watch DVDs and prepare presentations on our laptops. So Marriott is testing out the "jack pack" in several hotels.

The box is literally a series of jack plugs that will allow guests to plug in their own devices. It offers a wide array of opportunities to connect computers, iPods, and other gadgets.

The idea is to make use of the large television screens and superior sound system already installed in the rooms. Instead of preparing a presentation on a small laptop screen, listening to your music out of miserable laptop speakers you can make the most of sound and vision pretty much as you would at home.

As the pictures show, the box is simple and easy to use. It's pretty hard to go wrong when everything is clearly labelled -- even jet-lagged travelers can follow signs saying "Computer to TV."

Of course that has also meant rethinking the geography of the room - to make maximum use of this technology possible. It's no good putting in all this equipment if the screen is in the wrong place. A television designed for watching in bed is not necessarily suitable for sitting at the desk and so forth.

Marriott is also working on a IT concierge to help with IT problems, along with providing spare cables, leads and chargers for those left behind at home. This could either be the biggest benefit or biggest pain!

It will be great when the IT concierge solves the problem, but nothing will annoy the guest more than asking for a lead for their phone only to be told "we don't have that one here" (for instance, does the hotel have a charger for the Treo phone commonly used in the U.S., or is it just for the popular Nokia models?)

I strongly urge they make sure they have connections and leads for obscure phones, older phones and those out of production. Otherwise all they are going to do is create expectations, and enrage the guest who will shriek "but you're supposed to be the IT expert!"

Marriott says its responding to customer demand with the new technology -- and to be sure, just look at how much technological clutter you are carrying with you on any trip; so where Marriott is going others will surely follow.

Now Marriott just have to give their new box a catchy name -- something like "Jack did it!" - and remember not to charge us extra for this useful gadget!

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