3:31 p.m., March 19, 2008--The first-ever X-Room Conference, “Designing the Hotel of the Future,” will be held from 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, May 3, at the Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware hotel.

The conference will feature a morning presentation showcasing innovative products and services, followed by an afternoon think-tank session held by a professional.

“Conference participants will have the opportunity to contribute white papers based on the think-tank results,” said Cihan Cobanoglu, associate professor in UD's Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management (HRIM) and X-Room conference chairperson. “Possible grant development opportunities also will be explored to secure funding for the design products and services mentioned during the think-tank session.”

Robert Nelson, HRIM chairperson, said that the “eXperiment” guestroom serves as a magnet, attracting the latest in guestroom technologies, where they can be independently tested by UD's graduate students and faculty in operating a hotel.

“The experimental guestroom was inspired by the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professional's Guestroom 2010, which is a guestroom of the future that people can walk through at tradeshows,” Nelson said. “After seeing the model, we thought about how great it would be if you could actually stay in the guest room of the future.”

Frederick J. DeMicco, Aramark Chair in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management, recognized the contributions of the Marriott Foundation in implementing the development of the experimental guestroom based on a proposal from HRIM in 2001.

“I wish to thank the Marriott Foundation for forecasting and investing in UD HRIM at the time, projecting that information technology in the guestroom of a hotel might be highly valued by hotel guests of the future,” DeMicco said. “We are most thankful for this continued strategic outlook by our partner, Marriott International.”

Hotel design consultant Jon Inge said that “Nowhere is hotel technology changing faster than in the guestroom. This conference is a great opportunity to check our current approaches and possible future directions.”

For more information, or to register, visit [www.experimentalguestroom.com/conference/register.htm]. Individuals or businesses interested in being a sponsor may contact Cihan Cobanoglu, at [cihan@udel.edu].

Individuals attending the “Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliance in Hospitality Conference” May 1-2, at the Courtyard Newark-University of Delaware hotel, can attend the May 3 X-Room conference at a discounted price with the same hotel rates. For more information about the “PCI Compliance in Hospitality Conference,” visit [www.hospitalityitcompliance.org].