The Palms in Las Vegas is matching hotel guest check-ins with Klout scores.

FORBES: Klout: The Biggest Popularity Contest Of All

As guest line up to check in, a manager christens their necks with gold Mardi Gras beads.

NPR: Mardi Gras Gives a Smaller Bounce to New Orleans

Finally, check and re-check that guest list.

FORBES: Throwing A Holiday Party That Even Uncle Sam Will Love

All laundry is air dried and the sheets and towels are cleaned only after check-out or by request of the guest.

FORBES: Connect

Occasionally, she'll check in as the most obnoxious breed of hotel guest: the road-weary whiner.

CNN: Confessions of a hotel mystery shopper

Predictions about the year ahead coming soon, but in the meantime I would strongly recommend this blog, and urge you to check out the links to Mo Ibrahim's recent guest-editor role on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

BBC: From the Wild Coast to New Year advice

Instead of screen scraping the hotel reservation system and calling it a mobile app, a system of engagement presented on a smartphone will know that a guest has entered the lobby for the first time and probably wants to check in.

FORBES: A Billion Smartphones Require New Systems Of Engagement

Check out your boat (if you are in Fethiye) and ask to see the guest list.

BBC: Sailing Turkey's Mediterranean coast