Did Convenience Stores Kill the Hotel Minibar?

That’s the claim of a Hong Kong hotel manager at least, but the fact is hotel minibars are on the decline.

April 10, 2014

HONG KONG – What has killed the hotel minibar? According to one Hong Kong hotel minibar, a convenience store, namely 7-Eleven, CNN reports. When the Hilton Hong Kong put the world’s first hotel minibar in its rooms 40 years ago, the move allegedly boosted the company’s income by 5% — and upped room service drink sales by 500%.

Soon, early every hotel room had a minibar fridge. But Hilton recently began to move back to the pre-minibar days by leaving the small refrigerators and removing the high-priced booze and snacks. Other hotel chains, such as Marriott, Starwood and Grand Hyatt, also stopped stocking in-room minibars at some properties.

The move comes as more travelers have been ignoring the once-lucrative sideline in hotel rooms to bring their own snacks and drinks. A recent TripAdvisor survey found the hotel minibar ranking dead last among all hotel amenities. PKF Hospitality Research discovered that in America, minibar revenue — which only account for 1% of all hotel revenue — dropped 28% from 2007 to 2012.

Robert Mandelbaum, director of research information services for PKF, said U.S. properties instead have opened “grab and go” mini-markets that resemble convenience stores. “The competitor of the minibar isn't nearby hotels but the 24-hour stores where one can get everything you need a few blocks away,” added Chum Roa, manager of Ovolo’s Aberdeen branch.

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