Hotel Minibars Try to Make a Comeback With Better Design and Local Products
Photo Credit: The Bartech eDrawer minibar. Bartech
Skift Take
While many say the minibar is down it definitely isn't out and companies are reimagining cleaner designs that bring together all the things hotels love, like local and tech.
The hotel minibar, long a repository of familiar goods at very unfamiliar prices may not be completely dead, but it is ailing.
Minibar sales data validates this notion to an extent, but that hasn't stopped several global chains from ordering new tech savvy minibars and rethinking the kinds of products to stock them with. Bartech, a minibar company leading this charge, has its minibars in hotels across 60 countries including 180 in the U.S. These include Four Seasons, Dreams hotels, Hard Rock, Hilton, InterContinental, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton, and all MGM luxury properties.
It's no coincidence that this list skews towards the luxury and upscale segments because that's historically where the minibar had the most success. That was decades ago when hotel bars weren't as lively or inviting as they are now, and lobbies weren't designed for hanging out for a drink with friends, colleagues, or locals. The renaissance of both of these places made kicking back in a private room wi
