Business of AV

Integrating Wellness Tech into the Modern Luxury Hotel

From lighting to shading to entertainment and more, Crestron has a portfolio of solutions that can make the hospitality experience even better

Oct 30, 2024

Crestron Electronics, Inc.

Integrating Wellness Tech into the Modern Luxury Hotel

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It’s a term that gets a lot of ink: “wellness.” As far as the hospitality industry is concerned, the definition of “wellness” — as in the residential world — is a bit, well, squishy.

“It’s like so many words in the industry — ‘spa,’ for example — It evolves and changes and means a lot of things to different people,” says Amy McDonald in a recent Luxury Hotel Association webinar entitled “Leveraging Technology to Create a Holistic Approach to Health and Wellness.” McDonald, principal and CEO of Under a Tree Wellness Consulting moderated the discussion with Dr. Lisa Cain, an associate professor at the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University.

The conversation covered a range of topics, from the downright futuristic (an AI-powered bed that could understand an individual’s comfort needs automatically) to the technology that’s available right now. Crestron’s Michelle Guss (VP of hospitality) had a lot to say about the incredible potential of both, but focused the bulk of her thoughts on the here and now.

“Background Tech” as the Foundation of Luxury

Yes, there are things available at this moment — from zero-gravity chairs to fat-free mocktails — that fit into the wellness bucket. But for Guss, what’s exciting is the technology that’s working 24/7, 365 to make the hospitality experience one of true refuge and relaxation — or even a most comfortable place to work, now that “remote employment” isn’t an exotic anomaly.

And that technology can be very nearly invisible.

“When technology is integrated properly — and that includes most of the things that might be considered ‘wellness’ solutions — it should seamlessly blend in with the overall design of the space,” says Guss. That concept — an ecosystem of devices working in concert and in the background — can extend beyond the guest room and into every part of a hotel.

Lighting and Circadian Rhythms

A terrific example of “background technology” as the foundation of the luxury experience is tunable lighting, says Guss. “The potential positive effects that lighting programmed with circadian rhythms may have would be really evident in the guest room,” she says.

“The luminaires can provide warm light tones at lower levels as people are starting their day,” Guss explains. “As people are now traveling again for business, they need brighter, whiter colors of light throughout that middle part of the day to perhaps be more alert and productive. And then as the evening comes into the night, those light levels again have to change to that natural circadian curve to be at warmer, lower levels of light.”

The ability to switch out of automated lighting and into whatever one might desire is just as important, says Guss. Additionally, it’s imperative that the interfaces that manually control that lighting — whether they’re keypads or touch screens — are made of materials of the highest quality and are designed to be as intuitive as possible.

Crestron Electronics, Inc.

Innovation Fuels Us Crestron Electronics has carved the path for technological innovation since 1972. We create automation solutions that transform the way people live their lives, making their day-to-day tasks easier and improving efficiency and productivity. In the process we’ve also transformed the way those solutions are created. We strive to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, constantly offering faster, better solutions that address the needs of customers the world over. With Crestron, you aren’t just buying top-of-the-line electronics, you are investing in scalable and customized solutions, gaining 24/7 global service and support, and sponsoring products that are designed and manufactured in America. Designing the Future of Technology Crestron is a global leader in workplace technologies, engineering and transforming corporate automation and unified communication (UC) solutions for enterprise organizations across Fortune 500 corporations, campuses, facilities, and more, as well as a premium home automation provider who creates platforms, devices, and systems across residential properties including homes, yachts, MDUs, and hotels. For almost 50 years, Crestron has been designing software and hardware solutions across government, military, lecture halls, and boardrooms, as well as the most discerning residential properties around the globe. As technology has become omnipresent in both work and home lives, Crestron is charting the future of digital transformation for commercial and residential applications by identifying and manufacturing solutions that strengthen collaboration, productivity, and innovation, while reflecting the lifestyles, comforts, and relationships that keep people connected, from anywhere, at any time. Crestron products are backed by more than 90 fully-staffed offices that provide 24 x 7 x 365 sales, technical, and training support across the globe. In addition to its world headquarters in Rockleigh, New Jersey, Crestron has sales and support offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Australia.