Why Americans Fell Out Of Love With The Hotel Minibar

Once a symbol of luxury and late-night convenience, the hotel minibar has quietly faded into obsolescence. What began in 1974 at a Hilton Hotel in Hong Kong, where tiny liquor bottles boosted drink sales by 500%, soon became a global standard. But over time, the novelty wore off. Rising labor costs, food spoilage, theft, and changing guest preferences made the minibar a burden to guests and the hotel staff.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
1:10 The minibar’s rise
3:09 Shifting trends
5:35 What’s next for minibars
7:18 Credits

Produced and Edited by
Darren Geeter
Animation
Jason Reginato, Emily Park, Josh Kalven
Senior Managing Producer
Tala Hadavi
Additional Footage
Getty Images, Hilton, Marriott

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Why Americans Fell Out Of Love With The Hotel Minibar

Post from CNBC on June 21, 2025

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