Hotels are striving to appeal to corporate guests

Some of the world's most famous hotels, increasingly dependent on corporate travelers, are trying to stay ahead of the curve. The Dorchester Hotel in London, which opened in the 1930's as a swanky, hip alternative to the fusty grand hotels of the 19th century, is equipping rooms with what hotel officials say is the most advanced interactive data and entertainment system available anywhere.

The system, which will be in place at the end of April in 90 of the hotel's 250 rooms, has 42-inch plasma video screens and Bose audio systems, with broadband Internet service and a digital library of on-demand movies, TV shows and recordings. The system, including a wireless keyboard, is designed to be easy to use, said David Wilkinson, the hotel's general manager. But technical support is just down the hall. "We have a chap whom we call an e-butler, on call all the time," he said.