The feasible uses of Google Glass especially in the hospitality industry have been under my radar for some time now but little has really attracted my curiosity. That’s until the UK-based luxury boutique hotel brand Montcalm decided to give it a try.

Walking into the 5-star property near Marble Arch in London, guests are welcomed by Google-Glass wearers ready to part with local information and sound advise without interrupting their eye contact to look down onto a screen.

Montcalm is sure that this technology will also free their staff from the restrictions of being based behind a desk – removing a physical barrier between them and the guest.

Now this is interesting. Using Google Glass to remove the traditional reception desk!

Google Glass features a transparent display that creates the illusion of a 60 centimetre screen floating about 2.5 metres in front of the wearer’s right eye, which can be used to display information from apps. A built-in camera and microphone can record photos, video and audio, while the device can play back audio by sending vibrations through the wearer’s skull using a bone conduction transducer, or via traditional headphones.

Rahul Arora, Managing Director of Luxury Hotels Group, who led the training, said:

“The Montcalm London Marble Arch is always looking to be at the cutting edge of guest services and technology, and the use of Google Glass is a great way to combine the two. It’s early days for Google Glass in the UK, and we are excited to be a pioneer in our industry. As a wider selection of suitable apps becomes available, the staff here at The Montcalm will be the first in the hotel sector to use them. It’s great fun for the staff to use and a real talking point among the guests, encouraging interaction between guests and staff.”

“The basics of providing a great hospitality experience don’t change – our staff are knowledgeable, friendly and courteous, but by using Google Glass we are enabling them to provide an extra dimension to an immaculate service,”

added Arora.

Guest Experience Manager Janine Mallia, one of the first members of staff at The Montcalm to receive Google Glass training, said:

“It’s been a really good experience learning how to use this new technology. It’s fun to use and by having so much information literally right in front of our eyes, we will be able to offer our guests an even better service.”