Minibars have become the bane of the hotelier s life but, for the guest, a minibar stocked with a variety of items remains an iconic aspect of their stay in a hotel, he says. When guests first enter a hotel room there are three things they check out: the bathroom, the TV and the minibar. The minibar represents an indication that you re travelling somewhere and what will really save it in the end will be more people travelling, particularly corporate travellers, who tend to use them more than leisure travellers. But Covid-19 has really pushed the decline of the minibar as it s finally given some hotels a reason to remove them.
If there s a single in-room item that has left hoteliers cold in recent times it s that iconic, oft concealed petite fridge stuffed with overpriced but irresistible goodies. The minibar has long created maximum angst for hotel bean-counters with pandemic fears offering an excuse to either de-stock or banish them.
Minibars are labour intensive to maintain and administer, particularly in an era of acute staff shortages, and even with extravagant mark-ups they are usually run at a loss at hotels big and small.
Furthermore, opportunistic guests remain notorious for cheating them, replacing the contents of miniature whisky bottles with alternative liquids.
Photo: Wolter Peeters
The lavish five-star 294-room W Melbourne, part of the imposing Collins Arch Precinct complex on the corner of Flinders Lane and Market Street and with rooms ranging from $399 to $1269 per night, is due to open next Thursday.
Sean Hunt, area vice president of the parent company, Marriott, says Australians are craving luxury experiences with international travel still on indefinite hold. You will now receive updates from Traveller Newsletter
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