Checking Into the Hotel Microsoft

We've heard about the Hotel Sax Chicago before.  However, for Zune fans it's an intriguing concept to have a hotel with a technology theme.  Over on the Chicago Tribune Blog, there's some first hand visit notes:

Hotel Sax sees itself as a playground for tech-savvy travelers, with Microsoft technology hardwired throughout the 16-story building in a pilot project for the software giant. But was it me, or did I miss something?

The centerpiece is something called The Studio -- Experience by Microsoft. It's a small gathering space, an entertainment lounge for guests only that's decked out in contemporary splendor and tricked out with a couple of Xbox 360s, juiced-up HP laptops, Zune portable media players you can plug into and a "technology butler" who'll show you how to play "Guitar Hero III" or view videos on the Zune. I get the idea: Have fun with Microsoft. Live with Microsoft. Want Microsoft.

But despite the party's dainty appetizers, the hotel's contemporary-without-being-austere decor and the silhouetted female dancers gyrating to throbbing music, I still couldn't connect "sleek, sexy fun" with the company whose big claim to fame is computer operating systems.

I think the guy is a little hard on the place.  Or maybe he's just an iPod kind of guy.  As far as I'm concerned, any hotel that has a technology butler is exactly the kind of place that I'd like to frequent.  I hope that this type of "entertainment lounge" becomes a standard feature at more high end hotels.  Wouldn't it be great if every hotel had a place where we could "get into the social" and squirt some tracks?

Comments

[Jody]

Gamers and business travelers alike will find that The Hotel Sax is the place to be when staying in Chicago. I am intrigued by the idea of a technolgy hotel that has Microsoft toys for the gamers to play the night away while also providing the technology for the corporate traveler to stay connected. It is a luxury hotel with an interactive game room. The Studio - experience by Microsoft is a great way for leisure traveler to listen to pre-loaded Zunes, play XBox games or watch a movie. The business traveler may find that they meeting rooms are perfect for a team building event. I think The Hotel Sax and Microsoft are on to something here...

Visit www.hotelsaxchicago.com

[Goeverywheretravelgirl]

I am a web based travel agent, and I have to say that the Hotel Sax is one of the best hotels I've ever experienced. My husband and I were in Chicago together, both for different business reasons, and we had an absolute BLAST at the hotel. He was thrilled with the ease of the wireless connection and he LOVED the designer desk chair. We had tickets to a show at the House of Blues and missed the first half hour because we were having such a great time in The Studio. It was fabulous. And, it totally has a new hotel feel. There is nothing typical about the Hotel Sax. You have to see it to believe it.

Here's a bit of info I found, that I assume is supposed to be on the "down-low." There is a special code for 20% off the room rate, and I think it's only supposed to be for Microsoft employees. I gave it to my friend, and she was able to use it last weekend. It worked, and no one at the hotel questioned why she was able to use it. So, if you're going to Chicago in the near future, book it now while the code is still valid. I have no idea how long it'll work.

Code is: "cache08"
When you go to the hotel site to book your room just put this code in when you're prompted for the promo/corporate code.

www.hotelsaxchicago.com

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