Plug-in to Progress

So fall is the time where I spend most of my days on the road and in hotels. Other than the difficulty in maintaining a regular fitness program, I’m pretty used to the travel at this point.

Still, I do have my complaints.

My biggest? The lack of electrical outlets.

There are far too many hotels out there that simply have no place to plug in anything–including the iron, and since I have no desire to charge my laptop next to the bathroom sink, this is an area of frustration for me.

So I was more than thrilled when I checked into my hotel room a few weeks ago and discovered this.

It’s a fairly simple idea: three outlets facing different directions (allowing room for bigger plugs) and to USB chargers–so popular with many electronic devices today. It was placed on the bedside table, allowing me the chance to charge my devices without moving major pieces of furniture.

15 years ago, hotels didn’t really have to think about this. Mobile phones and laptops, while available, were limited in scope.

But now? Most travelers have several devices that require power. These needs will continue to evolve and change as our technology advances.

So why am I posting this?

Ask yourself: are you running your organization as if you’re a hotel 15 years ago, or are you beginning to meet the needs of your users TODAY? Are we finding the simple solutions to the obvious problems?

The hotel didn’t do major construction, they simply purchased one of these items and placed it on the bedside table. Yes, there was a cost, but the solution increased the satisfaction of the clients the hotel served.

What can we do?

Now, let’s figure out a way to do it.