Bartech Addresses the Post-COVID Hotel Environment with Launch of Minibar+ for Remote Operation and Control

Bartech, a Las Vegas-based provider of automatic, profit-generating minibar solutions for the global hospitality industry, has unveiled Minibar+, an innovative solution that enhances Bartech's manual minibars with semi-automatic functionality. Simple to set up and implement, Minibar+ is a "plug and play" solution that is available as a downloadable application, easily adding semi-automatic functionality to Bartech's manual units to give hotel operators the ability to control key functions of these devices without having to set foot in the guestroom.

As the industry becomes more "guestroom-centric" with hotel guests avoiding common areas like restaurants and bars, the in-room F&B offering is expected to be a more central aspect of the stay experience. To address that need, Bartech's Minibar+ supports hoteliers by creating guestroom-based profit centers using manual minibars or dry goods display units with sealed, pre-packaged goods, and allows remote monitoring and control of the units, allowing minimized guest contact.

"There is a current focus on increased cleaning standards, which requires housekeeping to thoroughly clean and sanitize high touchpoints in the guestroom," said Bruno Agrario, VP of Sales and Marketing at Bartech. "Our new Minibar+ has the ability to monitor in real time if a guest has opened a minibar, which can determine whether or not an internal cleaning is required. Eliminating the need to enter a room to check whether the minibar has been opened allows hoteliers to avoid unnecessary entries by staff."

In addition to assisting with the protection of guest health and wellbeing, Minibar+ also allows hoteliers to control costs by providing the ability to adjust internal temperatures remotely using tablets or smartphones. In this way, properties can adjust their energy consumption based on occupancy, prevent refrigerators from running at night, or automatically set the devices to shut down during pre-set periods of low occupancy.

Minibar+ provides a number of other unique features also, including the ability to remotely lock and unlock minibars individually or by floor, reducing staff and guest pilferage, and allowing hoteliers to offer higher quality items in the guestroom. Maintenance staff can also schedule defrost timing remotely.

"A well-run minibar operation has always been one of the most profitable departments in the hotel. During the current crisis, the minbar will become even more essential," continued Agrario. "Minibar+ will galvanize the minibar market by giving hoteliers untethered control over their manual minibars. With social distancing likely to remain a societal norm for some time, guestroom amenities are sure to experience a renaissance. It's up to hotel operators to provide a quality stay experience, even if a guest never ventures out of their guestroom, and Minibar+ exists to make that possible."