12
WIZZ MAGAZINE
DECEMBER-JANUARY 2012/13
M
e and my iPhone are never apart
when we travel, but currently I’m
in possession of two, one held in
each hand. Why? Well, my original phone
is now ringing in my left hand, while in my
right is the one I’m going to use to open
the door to my hotel room. I’m at Europe’s
first interactive hotel, the Blow Up Hall
50/50
in the heart of Poznan.
On arrival, I had to seek out the
hidden reception in the lobby (there’s no
reception desk), and then found myself
momentarily distracted by a huge moving
video artwork, set off by cameras and
sensors dotted around the hotel. Once I’d
checked in, a tongue-in-cheek ‘personality
test’ ascertained which of the dark-hued,
handsome rooms I was to be given. But
rather than a key or a very 20th-century
key card with which to open the door, I
found myself with an iPhone. Yes, it’s the
most expensive and easily breakable room
key in history, but using it is a hoot.
Once inside, I flop on the bed and log
onto the hotel’s free WiFi to check my
emails and Twitter feed. As I head out into
Poznan’s historic Old Town, I keep in my
left pocket my old iPhone for receiving
calls and texts – though I switch off my
roaming as the costs of using this abroad
are still prohibitively expensive on my tariff.
Instead I fire up the iPhone that Blow Up
Hall 50/50 has given me, get onto the
Polish 3G network and use the maps to find
my way to Poznan’s grand Market Square.
Apps such as Tripadvisor are loaded onto
the phone so you can source restaurant
tips – or have a knowing read of the hotel’s
own user-generated reviews posted by
guests. The receptionist told me earlier
that I could also call the concierge directly
from the phone at any time (the number
is pre-loaded) should I need some dining
or travel advice. After a quick snack I opt
for dinner in the hotel’s own renowned
restaurant so I call reception (again,
pre-loaded) to check what time it is served.
The phone isn’t blocked so – a little
cheekily – I key in phone numbers from my
own phone to send some ‘hello’ texts back
home. One guest tells me that they gave
their mum in Britain a buzz to see if it’s
possible to use the phones for international
calls, and yes you can. Well – when you
have guests like former US Vice President
Al Gore staying here, long-distance
business is something of a necessity.
Over dinner, fellow guest and journalist
Zoe Strimpel observes: “This is a place
interested in the future.” Like me, Strimpel
is playing phone juggling. “It’s weird, but
interesting. I rather like it.”
blowuphall5050.com
BLOW UP HALL 50/50
Words by Chris Beanland
TRAVEL 2.0
ILLUSTRATION: VALERO DOVAL/YCN
