For those guests looking for new experiences during their hotel stay, they need only to look up to the sky.
Unistellar, the manufacturer of the ODYSSEY Pro smart telescope, offers the Stargazing-as-a-Service program in which hotels and resorts provide an immersive amenity that allows guests to search the sky for their favorite stars and constellations.
“Stargazing experiences are becoming increasingly popular with hotel guests,” said Laurent Marfisi, CEO, Unistellar. “According to a recent survey by Booking.com, 62% of travelers are considering visiting darker sky destinations to have star-bathing experiences and view once-in-a-lifetime cosmic events. Astro-tourism is at the heart of a broader trend toward more meaningful, purpose-driven travel. For hotels and resorts, offering stargazing experiences, enriched by state-of-the-art telescopic technology, presents a unique opportunity to captivate guests and diversify bookings.”
Through the Stargazing-as-a-Service offering, hotels can offer guided stargazing nights led by astronomers or trained staff. They can also collaborate with space organizations or universities to host educational programs or talks on space exploration and science. Major celestial events like lunar eclipses, supermoons and meteor showers offer the opportunity for hotels to offer special themed packages, according to Marfisi
“With the power of the ODYSSEY Pro, they can capture breathtaking images of distant worlds or even participate in NASA’s Citizen Science program—all within minutes,” he said. “With this offering, stargazing becomes more than a pastime; it becomes an unforgettable, transformative memory for that guest, one forever attached to that hotel or resort.”
The CEO pointed out that the ODYSSEY Pro telescope displays high-resolution, crystal-clear observations of galaxies, nebulae, planets and more directly onto smartphones or tablets, even in light-polluted urban areas. It uses the company’s exclusive Dynamic Signal Amplification Technology, which increases the light signal in real-time, as well as its patented Deep Dark Technology which enhances the clarity of observations in areas with considerable light pollution.
“Another key feature is the Smart Star Finder, which autonomously targets and tracks celestial objects from the moment the telescope is turned on, even when few stars are visible in the sky, suggesting the best objects to observe,” said Marfisi. “The Nikon high-precision optics of the ODYSSEY guarantee that the mirrors and the optical tube will always remain perfectly aligned, regardless of temperature changes or vibrations while being transported.”
Stargazing guests will also have access to the ODYSSEY’s Star Calalog, which guides them to more than 5,000 “cosmic wonders,” with specific recommendations depending on the place and time of observation.
“Our smart telescopes can be controlled from your smartphone or tablet with the Unistellar app, and celestial observations are displayed directly onto the device,” said Marfisi. “Astronomical discoveries can be captured with a simple click, and live image processing ensures stunning observations and easy image sharing with friends and family.”
He added, “The telescope’s Smart Star Finder autonomously targets and tracks celestial objects from the moment the telescope is turned on, even when few stars are visible in the sky, suggesting the best objects to observe.”
Unistellar’s subscription-based hospitality package costs $99 for the first telescope the first month, $249 per month thereafter. Additional units are priced at $199 per month. There is no long-term commitment required, so hotels and resorts can cancel at any time. Properties receive the ODYSSEY telescope and backpack, as well as an online onboarding session, and they have access to continuous support and training.
“We also offer affiliate opportunities, where hotels have the chance to earn commissions for each telescope sale made through their recommendation,” said Marfisi.
A number of hotels and resorts worldwide are providing Stargazing-as-a-Service to their guests, including California’s Park James Hotel, Post Ranch Inn and The Ameswell Hotel, as well as Malliouhana Resort in the Caribbean, Chez Bruno in France and Nanuku Resort in Fiji.
Samuel Bruno, managing partner, Chez Bruno, said, “I’ve been offering UNISTELLAR telescopes to my customers for two years now. They are available in our superior rooms, but also on request at reception. Our guests can use them for an evening, without any prior training. Afterward, they experience a unique and memorable moment under the beautiful night sky of Provence.”
