When you’re one of the founding employees at Facebook and you’ve enjoyed an incredibly creative career at one of the world’s most prolific social media companies, turning an online meeting space into an actual meeting place is a dream come true. At least, that’s what Facebook founding member Ezra Callahan has set out to do.

The purpose and passion behind the hotel

Callahan’s dream of a casual and comfortable hotel style coupled with modern technology can be linked back to his time at Facebook. Having worked in an amazing virtual environment meant that when he left, Callahan was equipped to build an equally amazing physical space – coupling design and technology to create a hotel like no other. Aware of an emerging young market already used to the new millennial style hotels with their keyless technologies and fancy social facilities, Callahan wanted to take the concept further when he left Facebook’s employment back in 2010.

millennial type hotels move us forward in design, technology and service in our ever changing hospitality industry.

What can guests expect to find?

Opening mid-2016, the new Arrive Hotels in Palm Spring promises to simplify a guest’s stay and create a comfortable and casual space that loses some of the stiffness found in older hotels and hotel brands. Themed in mid-century modern style for which Palm Springs is well-known, the 32 bedroom hotel offers loads of space throughout the property which is perfect for socialising, especially if you’re keen to jump into their 20 metre pool or hang out in the group-friendly 6 metre Jacuzzi.

The 80-seater restaurant and bar is where guests can check-in, with staff on hand to assist with luggage and valet services. Rooms offer outstanding views of the mountains, along with king-size beds, fun and fanciful guest room amenities, reasonably priced mini-bar snacks and other mod-cons like free WIFI and Apple TV’s. Adding to their Food & Beverage offering, there’s a seriously cool coffee shop and ice-cream shop onsite, as well as plans to host music events for onsite entertainment. One of the unique qualities about this hotel is that staff are required to be cross-trained in all departments to ensure that they are able to step in and assist when and where necessary. This drive to hire staff and train them across all sectors is a winning combination for both staff (who become skilled in many areas, making them more employable) and guests alike.

What guests won’t find

Another unique quality of the Arrive Hotels brand is that there are no telephones in the guest bedrooms. The philosophy is simple – why complicate matters? Guests don’t need fancy apps to ask for services. They don’t need to phone or run down to the reception desk. All they need to do is text. Managing Director for the group, Kurt Englund, tells Condé Nast Traveler, “Our goal is not to have our guests install an app. We would use a communication method that they already have.” Texting fits perfectly into the target market. At $199 per night for a room (around R3250), would you choose this fun and casual hotel?

Is this the hotel of the future?

Hotels for the younger generation keep us creating new concepts, fun ideas, dramatic themes and more. They encourage change far beyond the measures we are used to. Sometimes it works, sometimes it’s just silly. Mostly though, millennial type hotels move us forward in design, technology and service in our ever changing hospitality industry. That can never be a bad thing! Share your thoughts below.

Information references: http://bit.ly/1Oqddf5 and https://www.facebook.com/ArriveHotels/ Image sources: www.businessweek.com  and https://www.facebook.com/ArriveHotels/