Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/875687
important part in our resorts," said Steve Wynn, chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts. "The thing that Amazon has done with Alexa is quite per- fect. If I have ever seen anything in my 49 years of developing resorts that has made our job of delivering a perfect experience to our guests easier and help us get to another level, it is Alexa. The ability to talk to your room is effortlessly convenient. In partnership with Amazon, becoming the first resort in the world in which guests can verbally control every aspect of light- ing, temperature and the audio-visual components of a hotel room is yet another example of our leadership in the world of technology for the ben- efit of all of our guests." Alexa will be fully operational in all guest rooms by summer 2017, and will initially control guest room lights, room temperature, drapery and the television. As the project evolves, future features such as personal assistant functions will be introduced. "Millions of people already enjoy interacting with Alexa at home via their Echo devices, and now they will be able to experience the same con- venience while traveling," said Steve Rabuchin, vice president of Amazon Alexa. "Wynn Las Vegas is known for its comfort and luxury, and we are excited to work with the resort to enhance its guest experience with Alexa." Alexa is the brain behind Amazon Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices – just ask and she'll answer questions, read the news, set timers and alarms, recite calendars, check sports scores, control smart devices in- home, and more. Since Alexa runs in the cloud, she is always getting smarter – plus, it is simple and free for developers to build Alexa skills and integrate Alexa into their own products. In the US, there are already more than 6,000 skills available for Alexa. COURTYARD ORLANDO LAKE BUENA VISTA IN MARRIOTT VILLAGE COMPLETES COMPREHENSIVE RENOVATION Hotel Adjacent to Walt Disney World and Disney Springs Reveals New Accommodations Noble Investment Group announced recently the Courtyard Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Marriott Village has completed a comprehensive renovation. Located near Walt Disney World® and Disney Springs®, the hotel unveiled completely reimagined guest rooms and suites that blend modern amenities and desired conveniences for an experience worthy of a prince or princess. The fresh, progressive design of each accommodation allows visitors to work, relax and slumber in style whether in the Lake Buena Vista area for business or leisure. Spaces were remodeled from top to bottom and boast new furniture, mattresses, linens and lighting, among other accessories. Vacationers will notice vibrant pops of yellow and aqua blue in pillows and accent colors the moment they step foot into rooms featuring fresh carpet and wall paint in neutral earth tones. Modern artwork and wall vinyl offer a bit of sophistication to complement the stark white comforters on new mattresses topped with crisp linens and plenty of fluffy pillows. Sleek workspaces on wheels offer plenty of room to be productive while provid- ing ergonomic chairs for a touch of practicality, while cozy LoungeAround™ sofas provide a comfortable place to unwind and watch a favorite movie or show on a wall-mounted TV. A luggage shelf and plenty of places to plug in electronic devices are convenient touches that enhance the overall ambiance of any Orlando stay. Mini-refrigerators, coffee makers and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi top off the list of amenities available in all of the remodeled guest quarters. "Our guests are going to be wowed by the significantly enhanced expe- rience we offer," said John McCracken, general manager of the Lake Buena Vista hotel near Disney Springs®. "Coming on the heels of a project that stylized our lobby, restaurant and other public spaces, this guest room revi- talization aims to please families, couples and business professionals alike while showing our commitment to being one of the most comfortable places on earth." Being a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor® Hotel, the Orlando Courtyard features free transportation to the theme parks and allows guests to purchase tickets at the guest services desk. Special vacation pack- ages are available as well. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit www.marriott.com/MCOLY or call the hotel directly at (407) 938-9001. B M & T ••• March/April 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 9