Blog 6: Moving Hotels

Ever wanted to squeeze in another tourist hotspot on your vacation without having to travel long distances uncomfortably? Ever wanted to laze in a luxurious hotel and sight-see at the same time? Ever wanted to just teleport yourself to somewhere exotic? I think the answer to the last question is definitely a YES!

Your prayers have been answered- the latest innovations in the hospitality sector are about to make it possible for you to park yourself at a 'moving hotel'- a place where travel and accommodation are both taken care of. Below is a list of a few moving-hotels (some in the pipeline and some book-able).

1- The Palace on Wheels, India is a renowned luxury train hotel that traverses across the terrains of Rajasthan and Agra. 8-day trips can be booked that promise to soak you in culture and pamper you as if you were in a 5-star hotel. From royally designed cabins, attached bathrooms, a personal butler to two restaurants, a spa and a lounge on the train, it is a self-sufficient marvel.

The Palace on Wheels

2- Recently spotted touring in India, the Rotel is a German concept by the German Das Rollende company. It is a custom made bus-hotel, that has kitchens, bathrooms and can accommodate between 20-40 passengers at a time. These Rotels are especially made for long distance travels and are equipped to cross a variety of terrains, from mountains to marsh-lands. The group interviewed in India had been touring for 4 weeks across countries- starting in Germany, crossing Italy, Greece, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Pakistan and then, were set for a Rajasthan tour!

Ready for a new journey

3- Jagnefält Milton Architecture, Sweden recently won a prize for a design proposal titled A Rolling Masterpiece. This conceptualises moving buildings in one piece using train tracks according to the season. The architecture of the buildings makes it possible for hotel rooms to be placed anywhere in the great outdoors or in the centre of any city. Their proposal also included a concert hall and a swimming pool.

A Rolling Masterpiece

4- Designed by HOK's Toronto studio, the Driftscape has won the grand prize at the Radical Innovation Award competition. The Driftscape is a self-sustaining hospitality concept that consists of two egg like capsules- the driftcraft and the oasis. Its is a single volume guest room unit that provides 360-degree views to the outside world and is fitted for untethered excursions of two to three days. Driftcraft is designed to leave minimal impact on sensitive environments, preserving the integrity and authenticity of the experience. Unfortunately, this project has not been made commercially viable yet.

The specifications of the Driftscape

5- The winner of the Radical Innovation Award in 2018, we saw the advent of transpitality- a combination of transport and hospitality. This is exactly what the Autonomous Travel Suite is. It is a driver-less, mobile suite offering door-to-door transportation service between the traveller’s home and destination. In a compact hotel room environment, the suite is equipped with the basic sleeping, working, and washroom facilities, allowing the guests to use their travel time more efficiently and productively. Using Autonomous Driving technology, the travel suite takes you to multiple destinations, serving as your personal vehicle and mobile hotel room.

The ATS

I am honestly moved by these developments- perfectly catering to the fast paced lives of today and wishes to take in as much as we can in a short span, while maintaining the authentic concept of a hotel. This is truly Gen Z!

Are you amazed or inspired by these innovations? How do you think this will revolutionise the hospitality and tourism industry? Let us know in the comments below! And don't forget to subscribe to the blog while you're at it.

At the moment just moving from my bedroom to the living room,

Anubhuti