Thinking over past opinion pieces I’ve written over the last several weeks, I see a lot of talk about the pandemic and labor issues. Those are incredibly important topics for the hotel industry now and for the foreseeable future.

But I’m a bit burned out on those this week, so instead I’m going to share with you a couple of hotel-related things I’ve found in the news that I thought were pretty cool.

CNN reports that a French startup has plans for a new network of overnight train services from Paris to 12 European destinations. Called Midnight Trains, the company’s goal is to basically be a “hotel on rails,” offering a more comfortable overnight train experience while being a greener form of transportation compared to taking a flight.

The trains would offer “hotel-style” rooms along with an on-board restaurant, bar and concierge service through an app. Travelers can book private rooms on these sleeper cars that range in size based on the travelers’ needs.

I’ve written in the past about how hotel brands should get into the sleeper car business. There aren’t many options given the limited availability of railroad infrastructure for domestic travel, but perhaps an upcoming federal infrastructure bill could address that.

These sorts of things take years or decades to accomplish, if they even get off the ground, but in terms of wishful thinking, the concept of giving travelers a comfortable mode of transportation that really plays into the “it’s the journey, not the destination” mindset could turn out amazing.

MGM Resorts International turned on its 100-megawatt solar array this week. The solar array will provide 90% of the daytime power needed for 13 MGM Resorts properties on the Las Vegas Strip. With more than 300 sunny days a year, it certainly feels like a sound investment.

Sure, not every location is going to be perfect for solar panels, but owners with hotels in sunny locations ought to take a look — or another look if it’s been a while — at the potential for using solar panels to provide their properties with electricity. The cost of solar panels has decreased as the popularity of this source of renewable energy has grown. Plus, they help lower utility costs and can see a return on investment relatively quickly.

It’s encouraging to see a major hospitality (and gaming) company turn to a renewable energy source, and I hope it inspires others to follow suit.

A reporter for The New York Times wrote about taking a road trip in an electric car along Colorado’s Scenic & Historic Byways, seven of which the state “electrified” through charging stations every 100 miles along the routes.

Fans of retro hotels and old cars should take a look at the main photo for the article. The 1950s-style Circle R Motel in Salida, Colorado, has electric vehicle charging stations fashioned to look like old gas pumps.

That’s an example of a hotelier seeing change coming and not only taking advantage of it but adapting it to fit their own style.

This has been a fun change of pace for me and likely something I’ll return to time to time.

Feel free to send in any suggestions of cool things going on in the hotel industry — or could be happening. You can reach me at bwroten@hotelnewsnow.com or @HNN_Bryan.

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