Hilton spends £100m on ‘calming' makeover

Hilton has scrapped one of the hallowed phrases of the British hotel bedroom: "Do not disturb" signs are to be replaced by "Sssh, I'm sleeping".

The change is part of a much larger plan by the group to make their hotels a haven from what Hilton described as "a frenetic world where often work takes precedence over quality time". Under the label "Hilton time", the new initiatives will cost £100m in the first year.

Among other calming ideas is an image of goldfish swimming in the television screen to greet guests when they arrive in a bedroom; improved duvets and fatter pillows; dimmer lights; and improved bathroom toiletries. Bedrooms will be redesigned with different "zones" intended for business and relaxation. Room service will include meals brought in, take-away style, with fish and chips served in newspaper and Chinese meals in packaging. Elsewhere in the hotel, Hiltons are to see the return of shoeshine staff, a car washing service and several new types of restaurants. In future, wine will be brought to diners' tables on a trolley to enable them to try several before they decide which they would like to buy.

Many of the initiatives were first tried out by Hilton at its hotel in Watford, which is where the group experiments with new ideas (Caterer, 2 March, page 16).

The group is also spending £2m on improving facilities for staff.

by David Harris