The Burj Al Arab in Dubai is the only hotel in the world to market itself as a 7 star hotel, and to build on the lofty expectations it has already given potential guests the hotel will be giving 24 carat gold plated iPads to those who stay.
Unfortunately the iPads aren’t a freebie to take home with you, although with the cheapest room in the hotel costing around £656 a night some might expect it to be. The iPads are instead doled out to guests to use as a virtual concierge service, allowing them to request room service, read the restaurant menu and view spa opening hours on the Apple tablet. You can even hire a butler, if you’re feeling particularly ostentatious.
The hotel is one of the most iconic buildings in Dubai, set out at sea and sticking out from the water like the sail of a boat. The cheapest room per night costs around £650, whilst the most expensive is the Presidential Suite at around £12,270 per night.
The Jumeriah Group, which owns the Burj Al Arab as well as other swanky hotels, says it is using the iPads in order to keep up with modern hospitality trends. The luxurious 24 carat gold plating helps it stick to its company philosophy of “stay different”. Well, a being handed a gold iPad upon checking in for your room would certainly be different.