HOTELS

Derek Gale

They Have The Internet On Computers Now?
August 8, 2008

Omni Hotels apparently has discovered the Internet, announcing yesterday that it will immediately recycle its current stock of 30,000 phone books and eliminate future use of phone books at all its properties.

On one hand, I applaud Omni’s effort to save trees, but on the other hand, I wonder what took so long?

The company’s press release about this says, “Omni found today's guests are less and less likely to use phone books. Instead, travelers are more accustomed to seeking information online or asking a knowledgeable local resource.”

I’d wager that the company’s Gen X and Gen Y guests are not just less likely to use phone books, but actually have very likely been living without phone books in their homes and offices for several years already.

The best part of the release is the part that notes that phone books still will be available upon request through the concierge and in business centers.

If you’re a guest calling or going to the concierge desk, what, exactly, would be the point of requesting a phone book—couldn’t the concierge just find you the information you’re looking for?

And in the business center, well, there’s this thing called the Internet…

Posted by Derek Gale on August 8, 2008 | Comments (1)