Hafele, Like Magic present new hotel room concept

Häfele

FF&E PROVIDER HAFELE and Like Magic, a guest experience platform, are producing a new multifunctional hotel room concept. The "Work and Sleep" concept allows hotel operators to transform rooms into offices, meeting spaces and other functional areas using digitally enabled furniture, fitting solutions and specialized software.

Work and Sleep integrates a booking engine, guest platform, employee interface and monitoring tools into one central hub, streamlining hotel management, the companies said in a joint statement. It will combine Like Magic’s guest and employee experience platform with Häfele’s hardware systems, the statement said. The collaboration aims to introduce new revenue models by activating otherwise vacant rooms while reducing outfitting costs.

“Our goal is to lead the way in hotel industry innovation with our forward-thinking concepts,” said Gregor Riekena, Häfele’s CEO. “We are currently testing these new ideas at the ibis Styles Hotel in Nagold, Germany, which serves as a valuable proving ground for our initiatives. This innovation not only allows us to gather essential insights and refine our concepts, but also demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what modern hotels can offer. By continuously evolving and enhancing our solutions, we aim to set new standards for guest experience and operational efficiency.”

The system will be available in the U.S. as well, according to a Häfele spokesperson.

Work and Sleep rooms allow seamless reconfiguration without additional costs, the statement said. Electronic locking ensures that only night guests can access the integrated bed, while meeting tables remain accessible only to day guests who have booked them. Other features include lighting technology that automatically adjusts to the room for overnight guests and providing flicker-free lighting for daytime video conferences.

Hotel guests can use Like Magic’s web-based app to access extra amenities independently, Häfele said. The guests can unlock a coffee machine cabinet with Häfele electronic locks and use a smartphone key by Like Magic to access upgrades such as additional cabinet spaces, sports equipment and clothes steamers.