Facebook Gets Physical With Beacons and Offers at Hotels and Other Businesses

Hundreds of businesses, including hospitality brands, in New York City are testing Facebook Bluetooth beacons, which are wireless devices at business locations that push offers and events to customers' smartphones. Facebook announced earlier this year that it would roll out these beacons, which enable businesses to tap into content from visitors Facebook friends and make the hotel, restaurant or other businesses' physical space more social, so to speak. Through a bluetooth connection, brands have the ability to connect with people on-site by welcoming them and serving up deals along with curated content from shoppers' Facebook family and friends to their News Feeds.