Room service scrapped?

Asked to comment by the BBC on plans by Hilton International to scrap room service BTN Editor Malcolm Ginsberg was sceptical.  “Whilst I appreciate that hotels are looking at ways to economise I believe that this would be a retrograde step.  Whilst typically Hilton is mostly a franchise operation nevertheless it tries to standardise the product wherever possible.  If you are not certain you are going to get room service you might very well turn to another hospitality supplier", he said.  “Business travellers rely on room service for late night needs, meetings and breakfast".

Hilton Worldwide's Chief Executive Christopher Nassetta, speaking last week at a hospitality conference hosted by New York University said that he expected other hotel companies to scale back or scrap the facility.

The New York Hilton Midtown, a 2,000-room, full-service hotel, plans to eliminate room service this summer and open an on-site eatery that will offer gourmet take-out. The company said it does not have current plans to roll out the initiative more broadly at its 4,000 hotels worldwide.

A spokeswoman for Marriott International said her company had no plans to eliminate room service at hotels that offer it. www.hilton.com

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