courtesy of Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers
Part of a vast multinational corporation and aimed at business travellers, Crowne Plazas are not the kind of hotels we usually recommend. In one important area, though, this newish addition to the chain can put hipper, boutique hotels to shame: its forward-thinking green policy. Eco-friendly solutions have been integrated into every aspect of the building's design, from biodegradable toothbrushes to an innovative ground-water cooling and heating system that reduces energy consumption to 10% of that of other Copenhagen hotels. The 366-room establishment also has the mod cons and slick service you'd expect from a four star, and, despite being located out of town, is right by a metro that'll whisk you to Strøget in eight minutes.
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courtesy of Yotel
Those who grew up watching futuristic technology programs may have imagined that, by the millennium, all hotels would look like Yotel: slick, compact 'cabins' with automated check-in and vending machines instead of room service. There's even a giant robot arm to store left luggage. Although people may still generally prefer the human touch, Yotel is more than just a gimmick. In a choice location two blocks from Times Square, its 669 cabins are not only inexpensive for New York, but also comfortable and well designed, with floor to ceiling windows, good showers, and flat-screen TVs. Free 'super strength' wi-fi, complimentary breakfast, and the city's largest roof terrace complete the package.
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courtesy of Old Bangkok Inn
Family-run, eco-friendly lodgings in the historical district
Built on the ancient site of the owner’s family temple, the aptly named Old Bangkok Inn puts tradition before modernity with pleasing results. Each of the ten bespoke guest rooms incorporates salvaged Thai teak, antique fixtures, and old-fashioned oil lamps to create a rustic yet wholly beguiling city centre getaway. Not all the focus is on the past, though: Old Bangkok Inn fully commits to the future by being one of the greenest places in town. Water is heated by solar power, energy is conserved through the use of efficient appliances, and all guests are encouraged to recycle with the use of in-room recycling bins.
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courtesy of Klapsons
Having enlisted the keen eye of avant-garde Italian design team Sawaya & Moroni for this futuristic foray into the world of boutique business hotels, it's safe to assume that the folk behind Klapsons never intended to merge in with the other bland offerings of Singapore's central business district. Almost every element of the hotel's décor is out to challenge guest's perceptions - the video monitor coated elevator roof and seemingly self-illuminating tables all add to the hotel's ultramodern feel. But comfort-seekers needn't worry; each of the 17 bespoke guestrooms and suites marries innovation with functionality whilst the meticulous attention to design detail ensures no two stays are the same.
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courtesy of Eccleston Square Hotel
If free wi-fi is the first thing you look for in a hotel, the tech on offer at this new five-star will really get your pulse racing. Each of the 39 rooms comes fully loaded with gadgets including an iPad 2 on which you can order room service; 'smart glass' bathroom walls that turn frosted at the touch of a button; a 46-inch HD and 3D plasma TV with complimentary 3D movies; massaging beds; a personal Nespresso machine... and we could go on. Housed in two Georgian townhouses, the hotel also has more analogue charms: a good restaurant; views over - and access to - the private Eccleston Square gardens; and a location two minutes from Victoria station - highly convenient, if you can tear yourself away from your room.
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