Cool Tech

Comfort and connectivity are what today's guests want from their hotels. The technology has to be in place to allow them to work efficiently and quickly, but the ambience and look of the facilities are just as important for many guests.

The Westin Chicago River North recognized both trends when

Every one of the club's 100 refurbished guestrooms features free high-speed Internet access, a speakerphone, ample desk space, and something not found in many hotel guestrooms: an iMac desktop computer.

"A computer is an added amenity, but we wanted a system that would differentiate us from other hotels in the market," says Peter Simoncelli, general manager. "Aesthetically, the iMac is perfect for the look of the rooms. Also, it's a completely integrated unit that operates very consistently and with virtually no problems, particularly with viruses."