“Although our location here seems wonderfully rural, we’re actually in the heart of the Silicon Forest, the major grouping of high-tech companies just East of Seattle, so many of our guests automatically expect their room to be technologically modern,” he says. “We’re attractive to them because we provide that in a very Northwest approach that mirrors their lifestyle: casual and laid-back but high-quality, with the right level of unobtrusive technology in exceptionally comfortable surroundings.”

What’s the right level? “Given our client base, high-speed Internet access in every room, both guestrooms and meeting rooms, is essential. We see this as an expected utility, so we offer the service [from Guest-Tek] at no cost to the guest, although we do charge for meeting room connections. It’s proving very popular in both areas, with 15%-18% guestroom usage. And it’s not just the meeting attendees who make use of it after hours; many independent guests are hooking up, too.”

“Other high-tech touches in the room include a laptop-sized safe in the closet, two-line cordless phones, a mix of halogen and conventional task-based lighting controlled by electronic dimmers with an led readout of the level selected, and a good-quality entertainment center that includes a DVD/CD player. Even the showers have electronically-controlled mixers, with a digital read-out of the temperature.”

“None of these things are included purely for the sake of high technology; guest comfort comes first and foremost and always will. However, if we can deliver on guest expectations in a high tech manner, we can create a memorable experience way beyond the norm.”

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