Bartech, a Las Vegas-based provider of automatic minibar products for the global hospitality industry, has unveiled Minibar+, which enhances Bartech's manual minibars with semiautomatic functionality. Minibar+ is a "plug-and-play" solution that is available as a downloadable application, easily adding semiautomatic functionality to Bartech's manual units to give hotel operators the ability to control key functions of these devices without having to enter the guestroom.
As the industry becomes more guestroom-centric with hotel guests avoiding common areas like restaurants and bars, the in-room food-and-beverage offering is expected to be a more central aspect of the stay experience. To address that need, Bartech's Minibar+ supports hoteliers by creating guestroom-based profit centers using manual minibars or dry goods display units with sealed, pre-packaged goods, and allows remote monitoring and control of the units, allowing minimized guest contact.
"There is a current focus on increased cleaning standards, which requires housekeeping to thoroughly clean and sanitize high touchpoints in the guestroom," said Bruno Agrario, VP of sales and marketing at Bartech. "Our new Minibar+ has the ability to monitor in real time if a guest has opened a minibar, which can determine whether or not an internal cleaning is required. Eliminating the need to enter a room to check whether the minibar has been opened allows hoteliers to avoid unnecessary entries by staff."
Minibar+ also allows hoteliers to control costs by providing the ability to adjust internal temperatures remotely using tablets or smartphones. In this way, properties can adjust their energy consumption based on occupancy, prevent refrigerators from running at night, or automatically set the devices to shut down during preset periods of low occupancy.
Minibar+ provides a number of other features also, including the ability to remotely lock and unlock minibars individually or by floor, reducing staff and guest pilferage, and allowing hoteliers to offer higher quality items in the guestroom. Maintenance staff also can schedule defrost timing remotely.
"A well-run minibar operation has always been one of the most profitable departments in the hotel. During the current crisis, the minbar will become even more essential," continued Agrario. "With social distancing likely to remain a societal norm for some time, guestroom amenities are sure to experience a renaissance. It's up to hotel operators to provide a quality stay experience, even if a guest never ventures out of their guestroom, and Minibar+ exists to make that possible."