Is this the future of hotel bedrooms?

For many years a hotel bedroom has been a fairly predictable place: space according to class of hotel, a comfortable bed, television with remote control and an ensuite bathroom.

But now there is more. Under the leadership of charismatic ceo Juergen Bartels, or 'JB' as he likes to be known, Le Meridien has come up with something completely different. Stay in an Art + Tech room and hospitality has moved forward into the 21st century.

Well, to be fair the space has not changed. But everything else has. The bed? An exceedingly comfortable one, with electrically-adjusted head and foot sections, just like a hospital bed. The lighting? Partly integrated into the bed's headboard.

The TV? Naturally a 42-inch plasma display TV, the most expensive ever in a hotel. Décor? Modernist down to the last ashtray. And the bathroom? Here the designer really pulled out all the stops.

Over the bath is a stainless steel cage from which water sprouts at different angles to provide a novel showering experience. The water basin is round and transparent glass. And a ladder-like heated towel rail complements this interesting combination.

To get this sort of special room you normally have to stay in a boutique modern hotel - and that is surely where JB got the idea - but Le Meridien has moved Art + Tech into its mainstream hotels in London and some other major cities.

By 2004 JB says he wants 25% of Le Meridien rooms to be Art + Tech, though there are none in the Middle East as yet. Surely that will change as owners will see the advantage that cool design offers in securing the technology conscious client.

For anyone looking for a new traveling experience this is it. And yes, you can access www.ameinfo.com on the Internet to keep up with the news from the Middle East on your plasma TV.