A look at secret tech lab that’s turning Peninsula Hotels into a connected travelers’ dream

Not only did the Peninsula Hotels’ flagship pioneer such in-room conveniences as bathtub-side telephones and bedroom control panels, but it’s one of the few hotel groups to have its own in-house tech development team. Its top-secret tech laboratory houses a team of engineers dedicated to developing the brand’s gadgets.

As part of a 450 million Hong Kong dollar (US$58 million) room renovation, whose first phase was unveiled in September, the property is introducing next-generation in-room technology geared toward gadget geeks and the more analog-inclined alike. Customized Samsung Galaxy tablets serve as room control, city guide and valet; wireless VOIP phones allow guests to make free calls (the one in the bathroom has noise-cancellation technology); and multi-language touch-screen wall panels control everything from the curtains to the Nespresso machine.