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 » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision » Watch CNBC on the go with CNBC+: https://www.cnbc.com/WatchCNBCPlus About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Do you want to buy a home but don’t know where to begin? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Register today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025: https://cnb.cx/3STNNhr Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: https://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC on Threads: https://cnb.cx/threads Follow CNBC News on X: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC on WhatsApp: https://cnb.cx/WhatsAppCNBC #CNBC Why Americans Fell Out Of Love With The Hotel Minibar