Not too long ago, I told you about the updates we are making to our Courtyard guest rooms. One of these updates is adding high definition flat screen TVs to all our rooms. Technology has been advancing rapidly, especially in the past few years. Flat panel HDTVs have been around for awhile now and we’ve already been installing them in some of our hotels, but now we’re really picking up the pace. Our goal is to have them in place at all of our Courtyard hotels by the end of 2009.

The new flat panel HDTVs will be replacing those big, bulky analog TVs with the huge backs. Each HDTV will be at least 32 inches and every Courtyard will offer at least 35 channels, with at least 14 of those in high def.

Not only do these new TVs allow you to see your favorite shows with remarkable clarity, they also free up a lot more space in the guest rooms. Those big analog TVs used to be the focal point in the guest room because they were so large and took up so much space. Now, with the new flat screens, the TV is still the focal point in the room – not because it’s so big, but because of its sleek, high tech design. Also, it gives our Marriott designers a chance to starting thinking about the room differently; more space may mean newer furniture designs to make the room even more functional in the future.

Our goal at Courtyard is to ensure our guests have the latest in technology when they’re staying with us. We know that many of our guests have HDTVs in their homes today, so we want to make sure they have one when they’re on the road too.

Thanks for helping me keep Courtyard on the go.

Brian