Last year on Earth Day, we shared the little environmentally-friendly steps In-Room Plus takes each day to create big impact. Today, we’re pleased to announce our latest step: our new line of plastic-free custom minibar packaging.  These containers are all now available plastic-free:• Gummy Bear Jar• Medium or Tall Flint Jars• Classic Jar• Wire Jar• Hinged Tins (for Couples Kit, First Aid Kit, and Dog Treats) More properties and organizations are looking to minimize their own minibar footprint; our stylish plastic- and shrinkwrap-free options can be custom printed or designed to match any hotel’s brand guidelines...

The Fontainebleau Hotel has been a crown jewel of Miami Beach (oceanfront in the heart of Millionaire’s Row) since hotelier Ben Novack first purchased it in 1952. By the time the sprawling, opulent personal mansion of tire magnate Harvey Firestone was converted and opened its doors to visitors for the first time two years later, it began its reign as the largest, most historically significant and luxe hotel in South Florida.Its legend loomed so large, in fact, that the hotel lacked any identifying outdoor signage for nearly 25 years. Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, Judy Garland,...

There are so many tasty and customizable options in a minibar full of In-Room Plus’ vast inventory of treats, it can be difficult to decide what to nosh. We’ve made it easy with this handy guide to each astrological sign’s ideal snack. Think of it as a sweeter (or saltier!) version of your newspaper horoscopes. AriesMarch 21-April 19Aries, you are used to diving in headfirst and making intense, bold choices. You grab each snack session by the horns and stay your energetic-self with some chocolate covered espresso beans!   TaurusApril 20-May 20Don’t be bull-headed, Taurus...

As we proudly celebrated In-Room Plus’s 30th anniversary last fall, we looked back on how precious and rare a milestone three decades in business truly is. That gives us an even larger appreciation for the magnitude of New Orleans’ own 2018 milestone: the city’s tricentennial–that’s 300 years! NoLa is a place close to our hearts, as In-Room Plus founder Wanda (the current owners’ mother) was born and raised in the area; in fact, many extended family members still reside throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. So as we mark our respective milestones, there’s no better time for...

Corporate gifts are often purchased as a holiday or end of year gift for employees, clients, vendors and others. Those gifts are a thoughtful gesture, but if you’re only corporate gifting in December, you’re missing out on 11 months of prime opportunities to build loyalty, appreciation and brand visibility. Don’t miss out on the chance to make major gains for your business. Far more than pens and peanuts, our team can customize any combination of our wide-range of products (from bridal party kits to treat towers) to seamlessly incorporate your--or their--name, branding, colors and more....

It’s hard to believe 2018 has come and (nearly!) gone. We’ve certainly stayed busy as we celebrated quite the milestone year with our friends and customers, celebrating our 30th Anniversary. Along the way, we’ve regularly shared blog posts highlighting favorite products, destinations, clients, employees, industry news and trends. And of our dozens of posts, here are the 6 In-Room Plus articles you loved most this year. 6. Thinking Outside the Minibar: Barton & Gray Mariners Club Thinking Outside the Minibar is a blog series we began to show off some of the many ways our...

Traveling over the winter holidays? Whether you’re planning a special end-of-year getaway or are just trying to get away from staying with certain members of your family, these hotels (all of which we’re proud to call clients!) go above and beyond to bring holiday cheer.   1. Hotel Del Coronado, CA Hotel Del Coronado (or “The Del” as its known by guests) doesn’t let their beachfront California setting stop them from winter holiday fun. Each year they construct a seasonal ice skating rink where guests enjoy their once-in-a-lifetime Skating by the Sea, gliding across the...

The times they were a changin’ in the late 80s. The Cold War was coming to an end, shares of Aqua Net were peaking and dudes were doing their best to look like chicks. There weren’t too many things that made it out of that era alive, but the Jones family is proud that the snack legacy did. Like most great things, In-Room Plus began unintentionally. Wanda Jones and Michael Amrose were operating a small research marketing agency when a friend asked them to start pitching his chocolate chip cookies for hotels to carry in...

  Ask someone to think of an extra-special hotel stay they’ve had. They’re likely to reminisce about a time when towels were artfully folded on the bed, or the friendly staff went out of their way to fulfill requests and make a room sparkle. Your diligent housekeeping staff work hard to deliver thoughtful and skillful touches that elevate guest experiences. While they deserve our deep appreciation always, this week (Sept. 9-15) is International Housekeeping Week--what better time to highlight their massive behind-the-scenes contributions to the hospitality industry?To help inspire creative and meaningful ways to say thank you to...

Is summer winding down? Not in Miami. South Florida’s chic city is always ready for its sunny, stylish close-up. That’s why it’s the perfect destination for our first IRP #Citygram! Our new blog series will showcase some of our favorite recent posts from a few In-Room Plus client properties--each one is giving us serious #FOMO (that’s Fear of Missing Out, NOT Fear of Miami Overload!) with their swoon-worthy Instagram snaps. Who can blame us for paging through these feeds for major inspo while we craft their custom-branded in-room treats?Note: This is not a paid or sponsored...

Ms. Everlyene Davis, known around In-Room Plus headquarters simply as “Ms. Davis”, is one of our longest standing employees. In her nearly two decades of service, Ms. Davis has become so beloved and appreciated by our entire team, we give our quarterly employee recognition award (the STAPLE award) in her honor. STAPLE exemplifies qualities found in our whole valued team, none more so than she: Sense of Urgency Time Management Attention to Detail Punctuality & Attendance Loyalty Ethics   Pictured: Ms. Davis & The Jones Family   We asked Ms. Davis to share a little...

Minibar mixed drinks are convenient, but they aren’t always exactly craft cocktails. If you’re tired of the same old plain vodka and soda routine, our Cocktail Kit can help you elevate your drinks to bartender-quality libations in a few simple steps. Best of all, because you don’t have to leave your hotel room, pants are optional!The Cocktail Kit contains:True Lemon flavor packetTrue Lime flavor packetRegular liquid sugarMint flavored liquid sugar2 mini bottles of bittersA booklet containing 7 craft-quality recipes you can make using only these ingredients + your minibar liquors.Our resident bartender, William, demonstrates how to whip...

Traveling can make skin stressed, dirty and dehydrated. A few hours in a crowded airplane or car is enough to make anyone long for the clean comforts of the spa. Plus once you arrive, summer sun, sweat, bug spray and sunscreen can leave you feeling sticky. Imagine returning to your room after a long flight or a day exploring the city. You left most of your own skincare products (those too big to pass through TSA checks or too fragile to be tossed into a carry-on) at home. But you’re in luck! Right there in...

While we all love to savor snacks from a hotel minibar, you might assume that if you’ve seen one minibar, you’ve seen them all. Not so! In fact, we’re so impressed with the on-brand touches and innovative ideas many of our clients have designed into their hospitality programs, we can’t keep the fun to ourselves. We’re launching a new blog series today: thinking outside the minibar. In each installment, we’ll highlight the creativity of one of our amazing In-Room Plus clients, and ask them to provide practical tips and spark inspiration.   Image source: www.bartonandgray.com...

At In-Room Plus, giving back is built into the fiber of our business and core values. While we’re privileged to work with many luxury brands and products, we never stop working to also help those in need. From corporate donations to employee volunteerism, we’re building a culture of community involvement, one inspired and lived out by top leadership. Our CEO, Elizabeth Jones, recently returned from the Dominican Republic as part of the Dominican Joe Foundation’s annual fundraiser. Jones serves on the organization’s board and gives her time and resources to help the group in Las...

This Sunday, we celebrate Earth Day; A day dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging action toward greater environmental responsibility. But here at IRP, we understand it takes more than one day a year to build and sustain environmentally responsible policy. While we continue to learn and grow, we’re proud of these small but meaningful steps we take throughout the year to cultivate an environmentally responsible culture for ourselves and our business partners.   We Reuse & Recycle While we have always practiced recycling at our In-Room Plus headquarters, we have moved away from disposable paper products to reusable...

  Here at In-Room HQ in New York state, it feels like we just lived through three winters in a row. After this extended freeze, we’re in dire need of a sunny getaway (Even if you’re lucky enough to reside in warmer climates, we’re guessing you wouldn’t be opposed to a Spring weekend trip!). There’s just one problem: our hard-partying Spring Breaker days are behind us. We’re after a slightly more sophisticated adventure, where we can relax, explore, shop--maybe even learn something new!   Here are our staff picks for stylish Spring getaways far from...

It’s that time of year: college hoops are getting ready for the Big Dance. Is your minibar ready to score big points with snacking sports fans? Sure, you’ll have plenty of cold beer and salty snacks for purchase. But a great in-room program can take an exciting basketball tournament to a buzzer beating party atmosphere! At In-Room Plus, we’re getting into the spirit with our own product brackets. Who will win these exciting March Minibar Madness matchups?   Oreos® vs. Banana Moon Cookies | WINNER: Banana Moon  Before you default to stocking only major name brands in your...

Before all those products and packages get to your minibar, they have to be designed! After all, pulling a treat from a plain bag or cardboard box wouldn’t be fun or eye-catching. In-Room Plus’ expert design team consists of a pair of hardworking, talented pros: Kristen Goeller, senior designer, with the company for 3 years, and Emily Zajac, graphic designer, with the company almost 2 years.     Kristen and Emily help grow in-room programs by designing custom products that feel like a natural extension of their customers’ brands. While they’re able to follow even...

Let’s face it: New Year’s resolutions usually aren’t worth the shiny new gym membership cards they’re printed on. That’s because big changes often require a major investment—the kind we tend to burn out on a few short weeks after swearing to do better this year. Great news: we’ve rounded up these seven easy, affordable (or even free!), totally doable tweaks to make to your in-room program. These simple improvements can yield significant positive impact for your business while also delighting guests. Commit a little time to each, and your program will be in great shape...

No one likes to feel nickel-and-dimed, especially when they’re already paying beaucoup bucks to stay in their suite. Hotels are notorious for hiking prices on their minibar offerings, and as a result, most people have the perception that the minibar is there to rip them off. Sure, tracking inventory, staffing minibar attendants, and products mysteriously disappearing means time and money, but offering items reasonably priced or complimentary will garner great TripAdvisor reviews and leave your guests feeling warm and fuzzy.Here are some hotels who make the case for lower-priced minibars:   The KimberlyThe Kimberly Hotel,...

With the rise of social media marketing, unprecedented connectivity, and ever-evolving tech advances, hoteliers need to keep a watchful eye on the trends and behaviors of their consumers. Here are a few trends that seem to be here to stay in the tourism industry and tips on how to seamlessly evolve your cool for your market. It’s Keen to be Green A 2016 survey shows that tourists prefer booking their vacations at “green” hotels. Properties that boast the use of eco-friendly fabrics and materials, employ recycling programs such as the Clean the World Foundation that...

Anyone who has been to a W Hotels property can attest to the fact that this clever, cheeky and original hospitality brand sees the world through a lens of limitless possibilities and thrives on maintaining a bold and consistent visual identity. Their brand manifesto states that their “irreverent attitude and taste for excess redefine revelry for the modern jet set.” And their in-room minibar product design is certainly no exception. W Hotels began their minibar makeover journey 13 years ago with an inventive and carefully designed collection of heavily branded geometric containers that created the opportunity...

  Travelers are placing high importance on conservation and seek out brands that do the same. In response to this green demand, hotels across the globe are continually devising unique strategies to reduce waste. The Fairmont Royal York, home of Canada’s largest hotel kitchen, composts coffee grounds and vegetable waste for use in the hotel’s rooftop herb garden. At Taj Hotels and Resorts in India, all unwanted linens, toiletries, blankets and unclaimed articles from lost and found are donated to local charitable organizations. Lovat and Queens Hotels in Scotland reuses all restaurant, bar and in-room...

It’s no secret that modern in-room minibar product offerings extend well beyond the items inside the refrigerated unit itself. Many hotels focus on making their minibar amenity programs a very significant component of guest travel experience, as evidenced by the recent Vogue article “Minibar Mania” which gives a descriptive summary of some of the most delectable and desirable in-room minibar offerings across the globe. In addition to boosting TripAdvisor reviews, minibar offerings can earn your hotel property some serious coolness points–especially if you toss in a few off-the-wall items to get your guests attention and...

Is that tap water in the minibar vodka bottle? Are those cocktail napkins crammed into the pretzel tin? If you’ve experienced minibar theft or product tampering, you know exactly how frustrating it can be. One of the most commonly targeted hotel amenities for theft is the minibar. This is why we’ve polled some of our experienced hotel partners on their tips and tricks for minibar theft prevention.   Here are some successful ways to keep your in-room theft low, your minibar revenue high, and your food and beverage products safe for future guests:   Eyes...

Offering your guests the same generic snacks in their minibars that are also available at the corner drugstore can sell your hotel short in more ways than one. But you can position your property–and your minibar–for success through custom designed minibar products that become an automatic extension of your hotel’s unique brand. Here are 3 key reasons to swap generic snacks for custom-branded minibar products: Bring ‘Em Back It’s no secret that repeat guests bring in a sizeable portion of hospitality industry revenue. This means hotel properties need to create a unique, differentiated experience that...

According to a TripAdvisor survey, 50 percent of travelers say that convenience is their number one motivation for purchasing snacks from the minibar. But what about the other 50 percent of travelers? Well after nearly 30 years in the minibar business, we know them pretty well.   Here are 5 tips for creating an in-room minibar program that will captivate your guests:   Know Your Peeps It’s likely that a young newlywed couple won’t want the same minibar products as a solo business professional traveling for a conference. To know your guests is to know...

From revenue to reviews, there's a lot to learn from the winners of the recently announced Gourmet Traveler Magazine 2017 Hotel Awards– namely the 2017 Best Hotel Minibar winner, COMO The Treasury hotel in Western Australia.Here are our 3 key takeaways from the land down under to help you get up over your apprehension as you develop and perfect your in-room amenity program:   #1. Merchandise Your Minibar Mix Presentation of your in-room amenity selection to guests is equal parts art and science, and the COMO hotel seems to have perfected this ratio with their...