Our Whine Wednesday topic this week is about certain outdated multimedia equipment in hotel rooms that simply isn’t up to the standard of current times.
I encountered one such instance this week at the Park Hyatt Shanghai where I had booked a Bund View Suite for New Years Eve and wasn’t even able to connect my iphone or computer to the stereo system.
Technology develops quick and it also doesn’t help that manufacturers such as Apple are constantly changing the style of charging dockets so that an ever evolving number of different chargers and cables is required to keep up.
This isn’t so much a problem for someone who just wishes to charge his own device but a hotel such as the Park Hyatt Shanghai should absolutely be up to date when it comes to offering their guests a proper iPhone dock which really doesn’t cost that much money and the Apple Store is just around the corner.
We were at the hotel for New Years and planning to play some music before heading down to the New Years party. The dock had an access that was the style of iPhone 4 and that model was current when? Like 6-7 years ago?
They have a Bang & Olufsen Stereo System which is able to play CD & Radio (wow!) plus this dock that can connect to an ancient iPhone. No HDMI for the computer either.
When talking to the duty manager he was actually proud of the fact the hotel (a Park Hyatt no less) recently changed/updated the TV’s and they would ‘periodically’ work on the rest. Congrats, that really deserves recognition!
I asked him to either install another adaptor or go next door to the Apple Store and buy one. Then 3 employees began to work on the issue:
It was quite bizarre to be honest. In the end they came up with a cable adaptor solution that worked – and I only have an iPhone 6S+ so definitely not the newest kid on the block,
Conclusion
Hotels and especially premium properties such as Park Hyatt should really have up to date multimedia options in the room and offer suitable adaptors to guests with reasonably older equipment – not ancient ones.
This reminds me on Volkswagen that used to deliver cars with an actual cassette player well into the CD age unless the customer paid the premium when ordering the brand new car. Penny pinching at it’s worst and it’s simply not acceptable.
At least they could go with a turntable for that retro kitch appeal.
@disqus_q6BZdf955H:disqus – actually, turntables and specifically, vinyl albums are the “in” thing nowadays, (albeit they are USB turntables).
Ask any teen if they could have a turntable and you’ll be surprised…
You seem to be the penny pincher in this case. Seems kind of rude to make them buy an adapter. I would have just gone out myself and bought one of it was really that important. You can also play your music through your phone speaker. Expecting a hotel to have every single hook up you might need is kinda ridiculous.
Surely the problem is that they have proprietory connections like apple at all? If they just had android usb connections, there would be no problem.
Nice comment Suki.
TBH I think even at top end hotels it’s the guest’s responsibility to carry commonly needed adaptors. Lenovo does a small hub that does most conversions at around USD55 on Amazon and I carry that one and don’t have problems anywhere.
Sebastian I love your posts and happy to see someone that actually dares complain about things that need complaining about even though on this one I wouldn’;t have been so hard on the hotel. Keep it up and Happy New Year to you, Freddy and John.
That adaptor sounds handy. Do you have a reference or URL? Thanks.
https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=lenovo+adapter&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=177246484762&hvpos=1t2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6932115518306758760&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1013671&hvtargid=kwd-2343463986&ref=pd_sl_9e0xit8wbv_e
google it or amazon. easy to find. many options. I always take the one with ethernet as well as all the rest. I don’t think I can/should post an affiliate link here… Happy New Year
There are so few hotels that you can connect to a stereo system (noise issues, etc).
The amount of landfill created by apple changing its ports is the issue here.
I just checked out of a very nice Westin lacking a bedside USB charging and electrical outlets. The outdated bedside clock with the original(?) iPhone docking station really is for a museum.
Bring on the 8-track tape machine or reel-to-reel!
Most annoying moment for me was staying at the Westin Harbor Castle in Toronto a few years ago. Went through all the trouble to buy an HDMI cable to connect my computer to it. Didn’t realize the TV didn’t have an HDMI input!
Must have been quite frustrating for you that they managed to make it work and you were unable to ask for compensation.
Yet again any trick you can think of to put every hotel you and John visit through hoops.
Did you really NEED to play music before NYEve? Really?!
Well, wander to that Apple store and buy your own adapter.
But no, being a tight-fisted miser you then took all that time to bully hotel staff – at one of their busiest times of the year to buy one for you.
And then you brag about it!
You have no morals, no shame. No empathy for others.
You’re just a miserable, moaning, selfish, parsimonious parasite.
Going on your past record It’s a 100% certainty the ‘adaptor trick’ was just a cynical opportunity to allow you to extort totally excessive ‘other benefits’ from the hotel.
What is it with you L.Lobby lot?
TRY to make 2019 the year you learn to show respect to ALL hospitality and travel industry staff.
AND DROP THIS PATHETIC ‘WHINE WEDNESDAY’.
It’s childish and it’s just encouraging you, John and others like you to look for any possible trick to bully and extort.
GROW UP and BEHAVE YOURSELVES!
And if that is impossible – DO NOT BRAG ABOUT IT TO US.
OMG! Would you like some cheese with that Whine?? Problem here is (other than the fact that you seldom seem happy about anything) is that you can’t expect hotels to A. Have all the comforts of YOUR home, and B. Know exactly what is important to you.
I have traveled to many cities in China over the years, and have in the vast majority of the cases been very presently surprised at not only the quality of the hotels I’ve chosen (normally “Western” brands), but also the amenities and how much they go out of their way to help. Of course you are going to have some instances where it’s not up to your usual standards, but as a former boss told me once, “You’ll get over it or you won’t!
p.s. Judging by the room pic, the bottle of wine and other welcome gifts on the table, you shouldn’t have much to complain about. Entitled!!!!!
This kind of problem is so common in most hotels. Apple changes its products so fast. Does Apple really need to change the cable every year? it is really a waste of recourses and adds more cost for many other industries and people. It is just Apple that is too greedy to take money from everyone. Apple is making use of this.