Brain Waves: Flexible hotel check-ins, Italy’s first capsule hotel, and more…

New booking site offers flexible check-in/out times

A new hotel booking site has launched that offers travellers early check-in and late check-out times as part of their reservation.  FlexBook.co, which initially features 15 hotels in North America, provides travellers with overnight stays and check-in/out times designed to match their schedule. According to the company, this allows hoteliers to “monetise idle day-inventory”.

Italy gets first capsule hotel

Italy’s first capsule hotel has opened at Naples International Airport. Bed and Boarding (BenBo) features 42 capsule-style rooms, each of which measures just 4m² and features soundproofed walls, automatic doors, blackout blinds, a table, mirror, clothes hanger and shoe rack. Guests are also offered use of a garden and smoking lounge. The hotel is open 24-7.

Taiwan museum employs robotic tour guide

The Taiwan Stock Museum has become the latest tourism operator to employ a robot to meet and assist its guests. Introduced after the museum’s renovation in early 2017, Pepper is a humanoid robot that will help conduct tours of the museum. The revamped museum also comes with other new features, including a stock market simulation and more audio-visual displays.

MSC unveils extra onboard connectivity

MSC Cruises has revealed the connectivity that will be made available on its new ship, MSC Meraviglia. Scheduled to enter service this June, the ship will be fitted with 3,050 iBeacons, 244 information screens, 144 interactive display screens, 700 Wi-Fi access points, 81 video-wall monitors and 31 virtual screens in guest cabins. This technology will also be rolled out on MSC Seaside.