Why Americans fell out of love with the hotel minibar
Once upon a time late at night, the hotel minibar was distinguishing for wanders and early Aughts in the 1990s. But not longer.
The Hotel Minibar concept was globalized in 1974, when he stocked the in -room refrigerators with a small liquor bottles inspired by a Hilton’s airline bar cars in Hong Kong. Drink sales are reported It increased by 500% that year and increased Hilton’s total revenue by 5%. Soon, the minibars have become a global standard with sodas, sugar and consistent brand name choices.
However, the appropriate innovation for guests was a logistical nightmare for hotels and staff. Re -stocks, food deterioration, operational costs and widespread theft contributed to a more expensive sensitivity than it earned.
In the early 2000s, many hotel chains began to gradually start Minibar from the hotel rooms. For example, in 2004, Marriott Marquis in Times Square removed almost all minibars from the 1,946 room. According to Food Arts Magazine, the operations of the minibar in that hotel required eight full -time employees who had one job to maintain and maintain 150 of them every day.
Even with the introduction of the “smart minibar” that follows the use in real time, returns became modest. Bartech Systems, a smart minibar provider, estimated that 33% of the guests used a minibar if there are. Average daily transaction $ 12– The company said.
Instead, there are hotels He began to shift his focus to modern alternatives: strategic partnerships with contactless lobbying markets, hotel bars and delivery applications.
Wyndham with the team Doordash In 2019, it offers a $ 0 delivery fee and 2,000 registration points in more than 3,700 US locations. Marriott And Uber He started his partnership in 2021 and allowed guests to earn hotel points when ordering hotels determined by Uber EATS. In 2024, Hilton GrupHub delivery service, guests such as a free Group+Bear provided advantages.
The minibars did not disappear completely. Boutique and luxury hotels have redesigned the Minibar by offering personalized or local products. However, many common medium -sized hotels are becoming a residue.
Watch the video above to learn more about why the minibars disappeared.
