Ever since the New York Hilton Midtown announced in 2013 that it was discontinuing roomservice to its 2,000 guestrooms, industry watchers have been anticipating the change to become widespread. But far from being shown the door, roomservice remains a presence in hospitality, and in many cases, has spurred creative offshoots.
The most recent hotel to put its own spin on roomservice is The Citizen Hotel in Sacramento, a historic property in the center of downtown. The new roomservice program, according to the hotel, revamps how travelers think about in-room dining and makes the experience fun, compelling and delicious. Created in partnership with the hotel’s restaurant, Grange Restaurant & Bar, the new Capitol Cravings roomservice program includes large-format meals and creative “fill your fridge” offerings that celebrate the destination (in addition to the full Grange menu, which will continue to cater to in-room dining).
All in keeping with the playful, "work hard, play hard” attitude of the hotel, combined with the historic 1926 building and “tongue-in-cheek” nods to the political environment throughout, Chef Oliver Ridgeway of Grange longs to curb the cravings of hungry citizens staying on property, according to a release.
Fill Your Fridge
- Sacramento Pub Crawl ($65): Showcasing Sacramento’s rich craft brewing culture, a variety of eight beers from six different brewers will be loaded into your guest room’s mini-fridge upon order. While the curated collection will rotate often, expect to see select brews from Track 7 Brewing Company, Ruhstaller, Device Brewing Company, Rubicon Brewing Company, Knee Deep Brewing Company, and Hemly Cider.
- Sacramento Sampler ($125): Treats to enjoy throughout your stay or throw in your suitcase as mementos of your visit, this mini-fridge haul reads like a veritable "best of" Sacramento food stuffs. Think: Midtown Jerky Co., Blue Diamond Almonds, Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates, Bariani Olive Oil & Vinegar, Carmazzi Caramel Corn, Bella Bru Bakery, Andy’s Candies, Preservation & Company Bloody Mary Mix and Capitol Sriracha; all complemented by Grange’s housemade seasonal jam, pickled vegetables, and candied bacon; and washed down with Track 7 Brewing Company and Can-Can Cocktails.
Meals exclusive for in-room dining:
- Bird & Bottle ($80): Whole roast Mary’s chicken for two, bottle of Boeger Grange blend red wine, chef’s choice salad, two seasonal sides
- Burger & Bucket ($28): Grange burger with lettuce, red onion and aioli; house fries; bucket of three locally produced beers
- Benedict & Bloody ($24): Grange Benedict, home fries, Grange Bloody Mary
- Brunch & Bubbles ($65): Pastry basket, fresh fruit, bottle of bubbles, carafe of orange juice, pot of coffee (weekends only)
- Cake & Cap ($12): Chef’s seasonal cake, cappuccino.
In September, The Kinzie Hotel in Chicago launched an exclusive in-room dining program in partnership with its neighbor, Public House. The independent boutique hotel’s “Chicago Starts Here” mantra is underscored in the alliance with Public House. Guests of Kinzie Hotel can now enjoy upscale, smoke-inspired pub fare without leaving the comfort of their hotel room.
Meals are made-to-order in the kitchen at Public House, then delivered fresh to the guestroom at Kinzie. Examples of signature dishes include:
- Smoked BBQ chicken: half Amish chicken, spicy bbq, white bbq, napa slaw, cauliflower mash
- House sliders: American cheese, tomato, pickle, garlic mayo, mini brioche bun
- Multiple choice mac n' cheese: choose up to 12 different items to be included in the mac n' cheese including pulled pork, truffle oil and/or jalapenos
- Skirt steak tacos: queso fresco, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo and salsa roja
When it comes to turning in-room dining on its head, the Hawthorn Suites brand has that covered. Knowing that many guests do want to eat in their rooms but often want to prepare meals themselves, the Wyndham Hotel Group’s extended-stay brand now gives guests easy access to the ingredients with its just-launched grocery delivery offering, bringing groceries straight to guests’ doors through new partnerships with Instacart, a retail delivery service, and Peapod, an online grocer.
The service, which was launched in May, currently is piloting at eight Hawthorn Suites hotels in and around Chicago; Philadelphia; Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.; Hartford, Conn.; and Orlando. It’s the latest addition to Homemade @ Hawthorn®, the brand’s in-room, chef-driven cooking program designed for hotel living serving up seasonal, home-cooked recipes from award-winning chefs that can be easily prepared in a fully equipped in-suite kitchen.