Minibars to offer happy hours and health food

Hoteliers are introducing healthy snacks and even happy hours to minibars in an attempt to revitalise the image of the maligned fridges.

Wasabi crackers, fruit smoothies and other fashionable products have been placed alongside the traditional miniature bottles of spirits and overpriced mineral water. In luxury establishments, premium chocolate has replaced mass-market brands and healthier berries and seeds have ousted the bag of peanuts.

The Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in Knightsbridge has even introduced a happy hour between 10pm and midnight which offers 30 per cent off. The cost is automatically billed by the hotel's computer within minutes of a guest removing products from the shelf.

"We wanted to get away from the fairly traditional bar of miniature alcohol and maybe a bottle of Coke," said Jane Renton, the hotel's manager. "The emphasis is on well-being and we have got energy drinks with exotic flavours like mango and grapefruit."

Hoteliers are increasing the choice and quality of products in the hope that they can encourage guests to spend more freely.

At the Riviera golf resort in Rimini, Italy, smoked salmon and cheese snacks are stocked for guests, says Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine, which identified the trend.

Hilton hotels now stocks juices, cereal bars and low-calorie soft drinks while others have replaced highly caffeinated Red Bull with the "pretox" drink Alibi.

Among other innovations, some minibars offer "intimacy kits" containing condoms and lubricants. Thompsons hotel in New York includes a vibrator in the package.

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