With mobile device charging on traveler’s growing lists of demands, the U.K.-based Firmdale Hotels, comprised of nine luxury boutique hotels in London and New York, now features the KS Portable from Kube Systems at the Crosby Street Hotel in New York and the Ham Yard Hotel in London. Kubes are available from the concierge at no cost for use in public spaces, including restaurants, bars and meeting rooms.
The KS Portable, also known as Kube 5, is a docking station housing five portable chargers. Each of the five portable charging Kubes features three built-in connectors, two USB ports and comes with Qi wireless charging that enables guests to simply rest or “drop and charge” their mobile devices on top of the Qi charging pad, located on the top of each Kube. Guests can power up to six mobile devices simultaneously; all smartphones and tablets are compatible, plus fitness bands, cameras and headphones. Each portable Kube has an 18,000 mAh battery that charges at a speed comparable to wall outlets, and provides up to nine hours of phone charge time.
“Because we place customer service above all else, we are always anticipating what our customers will be asking for next, and then we deliver on those expectations,” said Mark Rupert Read, Firmdale Hotels director of IT. “For some travelers, Wi-Fi is more important than running water, and as such, I sincerely believe that mobile device charging is – or soon will be – among our guests’ Top three requirements.
“We like the design and system’s capability of charging multiple units at one time,” Read said. “Second, we like being able to set the duration of charging time; this means each charging Kube is always powered and ready go. Third, the charging cables can be easily replaced and updated whenever the mobile manufacturers decide to change their design; this makes the KS Portable a smart investment.”