HTC to start introducing pay-per-use VR headsets in hotels

Much like you can order movies and ‘adult' content in hotel rooms, you'll soon be able to pay to play around with an HTC Vive virtual reality headset too. In a landmark deal, HTC has struck up a relationship with the Intercontinental Hotels Group, which represents several thousand hotels around the world, including Holiday Inns and Crowne Plazas.

Known as the Virtual Reality Guests Experience, the deal will see HTC Vive's made available at specific hotels within the IHG. While this deal will initially be tested in China, we would expect it to be rolled out elsewhere in the world before long. Perhaps not to Holiday Inns straight away, but certainly some of the more high-end hotels.

It's not clear at this time if this is something that guests will be able to use in their rooms, or whether public testing areas will be set up exclusively for guests, but in either case, this is great news for HTC and VR fans.

HTC Vive introduces world’s first Pay-Per-#VR experience for hotels @htcvive @viveport pic.twitter.com/sBzX2BmMgU

— Rikard Steiber (@rikardsteiber) October 28, 2016

It's also not clear how this will work in relation to content, whether developers whose games and experiences are played by guests will receive royalty fees or similar, but considering HTC has made big monetary commitments to aiding in the development and proliferation of VR experiences, I wouldn't be surprised.

It seems like a smart move too. While VR is great in many settings, ones where people are longing for familiar surroundings, or where they have limited mobility are perfect for it. For those wishing they were at home, VR could let them view 360 degree images and movies, or to easily interact with loves ones across the world in a shared space.

That and it will let them blast zombies in their room.

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KitGuru Says: Just as Bluetooth speakers and other tech are becoming common place in hotel rooms, it's no wonder that VR is also making an appearance in some. Expect these sorts of headsets to be everywhere before long. 

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