Hotels are offering incentives for guests who are willing to relinquish their gadgets at the door
Finding it hard to distance yourself from a smartphone or tablet, even when you’re on vacation? You’re not alone.
The majority of Americans expect to stay connected to their office in some way during their summer vacation, according to Regus, a provider of workplace facilities such as meeting rooms and video studios. In a poll of 5,000 U.S.-based professionals, Regis found that 66% of respondents plan to check and respond to email during their time off, and 29% expect to attend meetings virtually while on vacation.
READ MORE: 12 tips for taking tech on vacation
To encourage more people to unplug and unwind, some hotels are offering incentives for guests who are willing to surrender their myriad gadgetry — cell phones, laptops, tablets and e-readers — at the front desk.
Incentives include discounted rates, reports The Wall Street Journal. Plus some hotels are encouraging stress-reducing activities such as spa treatments and kayak lessons; supplying low-tech distractions such as board games and books; and offering rooms without TVs and telephones to help guests take a break from gadgets and screens.
According to the Journal:
“Starting this month, guests at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel can book ‘Zen and the Art of Detox’ on some summer weekends. The Hotel Monaco Chicago offers anyone who reserves its ‘tranquility suite’ the option to add a ‘Technology Break.’ Others with similar packages include the Quincy in Washington, D.C., the Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa in Teton Village, Wyo., the Lake Placid Lodge in Lake Placid, N.Y., and Via Yoga, a Seattle company that specializes in luxury yoga and surfing retreats in Mexico and Costa Rica…”
Do your vacation plans include screen time? Which devices are must-haves and which can you live without?
