Hotel in-room iPads new mark of luxury, yet don’t get stolen

Among the high-tech amenities that many pricey hotels have been adding in the last two years is the in-room iPad.

In many hotels, the tablet is loaded with software that lets guests tap the screen to order room service, call for a taxi or request a bill to check out. The Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills both offer in-room iPads.

A new study by the company that makes the software for iPads at 53 hotels across the country found that 82% of guests who had access to the tablets used them an average of 11 times per stay.

Of the guests who used the hotel iPads, 41% ordered in-room food, 21% requested a wake-up call and 7% called for a housekeeper, according to the study by Intelity.

“In-room tablets have quickly become the new mark of luxury service in hotels,” said David Adelson, chief executive of the Orlando, Fla., company. Despite the popularity of iPads, hotels don’t seem to have a problem with guests taking home the tablets. Some hotels attach the iPads by a cable to furniture in the room. Others warn guests when they check in that if the iPad goes missing, the hotel will tack a fee of up to $800 on their bill.

In the last two years, Intelity said it has received only two reports of damaged iPads and no reports of missing devices.

(c)2012 the Los Angeles Times. Distributed by MCT Information Services.