Many hotels across the country are offering guests the option of leaving room service behind in favor of having groceries or ready-to-make meals delivered to your room, according to USA Today.
Hotels have started to make arrangements for their guests to get deliveries from outside vendors, including deliveries of groceries. This is something they had not previously done because it usually isn't a profitable service.
These services are usually more popular at hotels that offer extended stays, though other types of hotels are also experimenting with offering the service as an alternative to room service. The increasing demand for healthier food choices had been a factor in offering the new option as hotels try to include healthy options for guests through delivery services that have healthy meals and snacks.
"It's not the home kitchen, but gets guests closer to a home-like experience, which is what road-weary travelers crave," Maryam Wehe, the senior vice president of Applied Predictive Technologies, which does consulting for hotels, said. "While travelers are just as time-starved as ever, they are increasingly health-conscious while on the go.
"Through healthy food delivery options, hotels are taking another step to bring the comforts and lifestyle of home to guests," Wehe continued.
Affinia Hotels, a boutique chain with locations in New York, has recently formed a partnership with FreshDirect, a grocery delivery service, to deliver ready-to-make meals.
Marriott Residence Inn offers free grocery deliveries to guests with no mark ups on items. Guests can leave their lists with hotel employees in the morning and return to their groceries in the evening.
"It liberates them from the limitations of room-service, minibar and restaurant fare," Lisa Zandee, the senior vice president of brand management for Affinia Hotels, said.
Room service revenue at the Amway Grand Plaza has had room service decline 30 percent in the last decade, according to Andrew Bowen, the assistant food and beverage director at the hotel.
"There seems to be a more negative connotation to room service now than there was 15, 20 years ago," Bowen said.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
