Make Way for the Flat Screens

The debut of flat screen televisions in the hotel guestroom has given hoteliers, guests and designers alike reason to cheer: not only are the sleek sets the hottest amenity on the scene, securing those properties that can afford them a distinct competitive edge, they've freed up precious floor space previously occupied by the hulking armoire, home to the traditional television. This has presented new opportunities and challenges in guestroom design.

Sure, flat screens (or flat panel, to be more precise, employing either liquid crystal display/LCD or plasma technologies) are still a pricey proposition, found mainly in upscale properties. But it's only a matter of time, as prices drop and more consumers buy them for home use, that the hotel industry jumps on the flat screen bandwagon, predict industry observers. "We anticipate a very steep growth curve," says Randy Moore, product manager for Zenith Sales Corp.