Hilton opens ‘Innovation Gallery’ in Tysons Corner

Tired of asking the front desk for another hotel room key? It might be more convenient to have a digital key on your phone. This and other products, from noise-cancellation and sleep-inducing devices to automated bartenders are being showcased in Hilton’s brand new 4,300 square foot innovation gallery.

Hilton considers the gallery, which is located next door to Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, to be an incubator that will allow it to fast-track guest innovations. It features a product showcase, food and beverage concept studio, a virtual reality stage and theater.

So far, the products include the Somabar automated bartender, the digital art display Meural and Pilot, a real-time language translator. Visitors can also see model rooms from Hilton’s newest brands Tru by Hilton and Canopy by Hilton.

.@ConradHotels hosted an @intelcapital Technology Day at our Innovation Gallery, where 6 startups pitched personalized, data-driven products for future guests. pic.twitter.com/hjLbODsUDk

— Hilton Newsroom (@HiltonNewsroom) November 17, 2017

“Innovation has been in Hilton’s DNA since entrepreneur Conrad Hilton purchased his first hotel and pioneered the industry nearly a century ago,” said Jon Witter, Hilton’s Chief Customer Officer, in a statement. “We honor our legacy of innovation with the opening of the Hilton Innovation Gallery – a space for us to incubate, test, scale and showcase the products and processes we’re creating to enhance our guests’ experiences and redefine the future of hospitality.”

The company clearly wants to show up off what they’re working on but the gallery is not completely open to the public. Hilton team members, hotel owners and technology partners, are among those who can get access.

It’s the latest sign of a hotel offering a landing point for technology companies. Earlier this year, Bethesda-based Marriott partnered with 1776 on an incubator program.