Sheraton Hotels Adopt Surface Computers

Five major Sheraton lobbies will now sport Surface computers to help guests find local attractions, navigate the city, and relax.

Microsoft’s very first Surface computers made it into the hands of drunks when they were installed at the Rio iBar in Las Vegas. Now, they’re creeping out of hotel bars and into the lobbies. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announced on Wednesday that it would bring Surface computers to five of its major hotel lobbies as information kiosks for visiting tourists.

Guests at the hotels will be able to use two hands on the 30-inch table-like displays to interact with a handful of custom-developed programs. For instance, CityTips will give a 360 degree of the city, with a built-in library of searchable restaurants, bars, entertainment, recreation, shopping, transportation and services. They’ll also be able to change up the lobby music selection with a digital jukebox that features Sony BMG artists, and browse other Sheratons by sifting through snapshots of them.

The computers will be unveiled Wednesday at Sheratons in Boston, Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.