Hotel Offers Discount For Not Using Smartphones

In February of 2018, Wyndham Hotels announced that they were going to be launching a new program that offered a special 5% discount at a select few of their hotels. This discount is part of their ‘Reconnected’ program and will be available to families who were willing to ensure they spend less time on their phones during vacation by locking their phones in a box for a set amount of time. According to the program website, Reconnected was set up after an internal survey revealed that many of the children that stayed in the hotel thought their parents were spending more time on the phone than with them. Because of this, the entire program is designed to help families unplug from their everyday lives and spend time together while away. The hotel will even provide the family with several gift packages designed to help them enjoy their vacation without the assistance of a smartphone. Although the program started at the end of February and is set to run through September 3, 2018, there has not been much feedback, positive or negative, about this discount program. But, it brings to mind the question: how much time are we really spending on our phones during our vacations?

According to a 2016 article from Hotels.com, “Just over 6% of travelers will spend more than seven hours a day with their smartphone in their hands.” While much of this time can be spent on social media, the article also states that, “51% of people admit that their mobile device is their primary source of information while away.” This suggests that, while a phone can be a link back to the real world while you’re trying to get away, it can also be a tool to help you explore your vacation. Either way, it might be something for each of us to keep in mind when planning out our next trip.

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