Luxury Resort Version 2.0—The Tech of TRS Yucatan
The Mexican hospitality company Palladium has given its world-class TRS Yucatan property a total makeover including the addition of some whiz-bang software. This piece was written in a 2018 visit and we revisited in 2020 for
our 25th wedding anniversary. We loved it! Our trip was in early March just before the Quintana Roo region closed because of the virus. TRS and the Palladium announced a reopening for October 2, 2020. The new TRS Coral on Playa Mujeres north of Cancun reopened two months before that under restrictions limiting the number of guests. Restrictions are being lifted as the virus spread is better controlled.
Central to the delivery of over-the-top personal service is some nifty-keen jim-dandy cutting-edge hotel technology pioneered by TRS to underline the Royal in The Royal Suites experience. It starts by connecting to the TRS Yucatan portal. You can choose your preferred language.
Your butler will help you set it up.
Through this online portal you can request (on any smart phone, tablet or in-room TV) whatever you desire from the hotel wish list.
One of the coolest features is the ability to summon a comfortable electric cart to carry you back to your room from the oceanfront or to deliver you anywhere within the vast Palladium resort kingdom.
Click Request a Ride.
In this example, you’re at the lobby and want a lift to the Infinity Pool. You are overdue for a seaside margarita. You click on your location.
Then choose your destination and enter the number of passengers.
The bellboy arrives to pick you up. It’s all-inclusive Uber!
Click on Restaurants and find descriptions and dress codes of any of the dozens of dining destinations in TRS and sister resorts. Remember TRS guests can dine anywhere. But TRS cuisine is reserved just for you. Use the portal to discover bars and their hours.
It’s also a tool with which to make a dinner reservation.
And it occurs to me that I have buried the lead, because most importantly I can speak directly to my personal butler who will grant whatever wish occurs to me. On our 2020 visit making reservations and connecting with butlers has been made even easier with the WhatsApp text messenging app, which is loaded on your phone at check-in.
My wristband is my waterproof radio frequency room key which never needs re-programming.
On my room smart TV I can connect to my own Netflix account or make Skype calls. A map of the greater Palladium complex is a handy reference.
And can view my shared resort photos and videos on Facebook and YouTube.
Push a privacy red button on the room wall to make housekeeping aware you don’t wish to be disturbed, and push it again (green) when you leave and summon minions to restore order in your suite.
The safe? It has an electrical socket inside so you can charge devices while keeping them secure. Bluetooth bedside speakers!
Wi-Fi is strong anywhere and there’s a mobile feature that allows you to continue watching sports or a movie outside your hotel room poolside on your phone or tablet.
Ordering room service is also a click away via the TRS portal. Lobster! Pizza! Lobster on my pizza! Actually, lobster is absent from the room service menu as of 2020 (damn you 2020) but it is still on the unlimited menu at Helios.
And can anyone doubt that it is one more giant step toward a voice-control future in which we will step out of the shower and command: “I’ll need a ride to the spa from my room in 12 minutes and please program our couples massage room to play a Jimmy Buffett mix.”
And keep in mind. You don’t have to use any of this. If learning all this stuff seems daunting, or if you are a proud Luddite who prefers staying in the information superhighway slow lane, just open your room door and summon your butler.
Whatever needs be done, he or she will happily do it!
Bonus Tip:
Watching sports or a favorite movie? Click on the Popcorn image at lower left below and it will arrive with a knock on your door!