The Hidden Value of Hotel Ice Machines
It’s 10 p.m., and you’re walking down the carpeted hallway of your hotel in socks and a hoodie, carrying a bucket the size of a toddler’s head on your way to the ice machine. Whether it's to chill your drink, soothe sore feet after a long day of sightseeing, or build a makeshift cooler for leftover tacos, hotel ice is often overlooked but incredibly useful. Even though you might have access to ice at home, there’s something special about having a dedicated machine that serves you frozen cubes of water.
Taylor Trenda, general manager of food and beverage operations at Hotel Teatro in Denver, emphasizes that ice machines are more than just a convenience—they're an essential part of the guest experience. “They are one of those quiet markers of hospitality,” she says. “They serve a lot of different purposes for our guests.”
So why do hotels have ice machines, and what can you actually use them for? Let's dive into the fascinating world of hotel ice machines and explore how to get the most out of them on your next trip.
The History of Ice Machines in Hotels
Not too long ago, ice wasn’t as readily available as it is today. In centuries past, if you wanted cold cubes in your drink, someone had to literally carve ice from a lake and haul it to your hotel. It was rare, expensive, and even a bit sweaty. The modern ice machine, as we know it, was invented in 1929 but didn’t become common until the 1940s. Some hotels started to install them, but they weren’t always available for free.
Enter Charles Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inn and unofficial patron saint of free ice. Legend has it that he grew tired of being charged for ice at other hotels, so when he launched Holiday Inn in 1952, he installed free ice machines as a customer perk. As Holiday Inns multiplied, so did the availability of free ice—and with it, our collective obsession with drinks so cold they hurt our teeth.
This love affair with ice is very much an American thing. Brits, for example, remain suspicious of ice, preferring their drinks tepid and their dental nerves intact. But regardless of cultural preferences, the success of free ice machines inspired other hotel chains to follow suit, making them a standard amenity.
What Can You Use a Hotel Ice Machine For?
“Perhaps you should be asking: What can’t you use a hotel ice machine for?” says Trenda. “You’d be surprised by how creative people get with ice.” It’s basically the Swiss Army knife of your hotel stay—if that knife only made things colder. Here are some practical and fun ways to use a hotel ice machine:
- Chilling Your Drinks: Whether it's a soda, wine, or boba tea, hotel ice makes the difference between “refreshing” and “lukewarm regret.”
- Creating a Makeshift Fridge: Fill the sink or a trash can with ice and toss in your drinks to create a mini fridge.
- Soothing Sore Muscles: Use ice to make a makeshift ice pack or take a cold plunge in the tub.
- DIY Spa Treatments: Dunk your face in a bowl of ice and water to reduce puffiness and rejuvenate your skin.
- Filling Your Cooler: Top off your cooler before a day of sightseeing instead of paying for a bag of ice at a gas station.
- Keeping Leftovers Fresh: Wrap up your leftovers and pop them in your ice-bucket fridge to keep them safe.
- Getting Some Peace and Quiet: A late-night walk to the ice machine can be a great way to unwind.
- Devising Homemade Entertainment: With a bucket of ice and no supervision, you can play games like Jenga or Tic-Tac-Toe.
The Future of Ice Machines in Hotels
While hotel ice machines can sometimes be unreliable—out of service, loud, or looking like they haven't been cleaned since the Nixon administration—they still serve a valuable purpose. Trenda believes they’re here to stay, despite some hotels choosing to ditch them to save space and money.
Potential future developments include smart ice machines that allow guests to customize their ice type, smaller machines in each room for better accessibility, or even eco-friendly alternatives. However, for now, ice machines remain a behind-the-scenes comfort that helps make a hotel feel more like home.
Why Trust This Information?
Taylor Trenda, the general manager of food and beverage operations at Hotel Teatro in Denver, provided insights based on her extensive experience in the hospitality industry. Her expertise ensures that the information shared is both accurate and relevant to the hotel guest experience. This article draws on her knowledge and real-world observations, offering readers a deeper understanding of the role of ice machines in hotels.
