Remember Rekall, the travel agency in 听that sedates Arnold Schwarzenegger and sends him on a psychic vacation to Mars? Marriott Hotels is now trying to deliver on that concept.
In September, the 听a booth fully equipped with an , fans, heat blowers, misting nozzles, and a scent dispenser, all to create a fully immersive virtual travel experience. According to , visual effects firm (which pulled in the Best Visual Effects Oscar this year for Gravity) developed the simulator over the summer.
The idea behind it is to inspire travel, not to replace it, so claims Marriott marketing vice president Michel Dail, who recently told , 鈥淧eople have such a love for travel, there鈥檚 really no replacing that cultural experience of being in the space, meeting the people, experiencing the food.鈥 Freedom of movement within the simulation is severely limited, though Dail added, 鈥淭he technology may improve to the point someday where it can totally surpass that real experience.鈥
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The simulator booth is currently on an through New York, Boston, D.C., Atlanta, Dallas, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco.