A Personal Touch: Hotel Wake-Up Calls

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Wake-Up CallAutomated wake-up calls at hotels have become the norm, but now some brands want to differentiate themselves with a more personal touch. According to a USA Today article, the following examples show this move to personalization:  

  • At the Westin Resort and Casino, Aruba, once you respond to the first telephone wake-up call, an employee goes to your room and knocks on your door to make sure you actually get up.
  • At Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort in Los Cabos, a butler shows up at your room to wake you up with complimentary tea, coffee and breakfast breads.
  • At the Mandarin Oriental and The Four Seasons, a person rather than an automated system will call to wake you up. If you don't answer, you'll get a wake-up knock.
  • You don't want to oversleep at The Adolphus in Dallas. If you miss your wake-up call three times, a security guard will show up at your door.

Although most people have Smartphones, according to one study, 53% of guests still want a hotel wake-up call.

Discussion Starters:

  • What's your preferred method for alarms at hotels? What value do you see in a hotel's personalized wake-up call?
  • What are the potential downsides of the hotels' approaches, listed above?