The beginning of the end of hotel room service has begun

As online restaurant delivery apps and other services abound, hotels are finding the competition is getting to be too much. Room service is an expensive proposition for hotels, as you need to keep a kitchen staffed and delivery people on call. And guests resent the high prices and extra delivery fees. Some hotels, like New York's Hilton Midtown in Times Square, the largest hotel in New York City, with nearly 2000 rooms, has done away with room service altogether. Others are looking to stay in the game by reinventing their role. Affinia hotels, a boutique hotel chain with five hotels in Manhattan, is teaming up with FreshDirect, a New York City-based grocery delivery service, to provide guests with ready-to-make meals delivered to the hotel. The service is designed for guests staying in rooms equipped kitchens and kitchenettes. Will more hotels be teaming up with local restaurant delivery services? Watch this space.