Behind a small door sit a cooling technology, a restocking routine and a billing rule. Here is how they fit together.
How a hotel minibar works
Scenario
A hotel minibar is a small in-room refrigerator that staff stock with drinks and snacks: guests help themselves, consumption is checked at restocking and charged to the bill or included in the rate.
The cooling comes from one of three technologies: absorption, with no moving mechanical parts; thermoelectric Peltier cells; or a compressor, the most powerful.
The service cycle in four steps
- Restocking: housekeeping or F&B loads the planned assortment for the room.
- Consumption: guests take what they want during the stay.
- Check: missing items are recorded at restocking or check-out.
- Billing: consumption goes on the bill, or the minibar is included in the room rate.
The three cooling technologies
| Technology | How it cools | Declared noise | PAMIBAR models | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption | A heat source circulates the refrigerant in a sealed circuit, with no compressor or moving parts | 0 dBA | SEA25, SEA30, SEA40, SEA30/40G, SEA40DX, B60 | Rooms where silence near the bed comes first |
| Thermoelectric (Peltier) | A semiconductor cell moves heat from inside to outside when current flows through it | 0 dBA | S30T, S40T, SG30T, SG40T | Rooms with stable ambient conditions and modest consumption |
| Compressor | A compressor compresses and expands the refrigerant, as in a household fridge | Check the sheet | SGC40 (class B) | Warm climates, exposed rooms and fast temperature recovery |
0 dBA is the declared figure for the listed models; do not assume it for other products using the same technology.
Technical check
What to decide before installing
- 1Technology, based on accepted noise, climate and consumption.
- 2Capacity, based on assortment and average length of stay.
- 3Position, ventilation and door swing inside the furniture.
- 4Service rule: paid, included in the rate or on request only.
One model for each technology
SEA30 absorption, S30T thermoelectric, SGC40 compressor and the SEA40DX drawer: four ways to bring cooling into the room.
Declared data
PAMIBAR SEA30
- Capacity
- 30 litres
- Dimensions
- 500 × 405 × 430 mm
Declared data
PAMIBAR S30T
- Capacity
- 30 litres
- Dimensions
- 500 × 405 × 415 mm
Declared data
PAMIBAR SGC40
- Capacity
- 40 litres
- Dimensions
- 552 × 403 × 458 mm
Declared data
PAMIBAR SEA40DX Drawer
- Capacity
- 46 litres
- Dimensions
- 425 × 555 × 492 mm
Questions from the brief
How does a hotel minibar work for the guest?
Guests find drinks and snacks in the room and take what they want. Items taken are charged to the bill, unless the hotel includes the minibar in the rate.
How does the hotel know what was consumed?
Staff usually check the minibar at restocking or check-out and record the missing items.
Why are some minibars silent?
Absorption and thermoelectric models do not use a compressor. The PAMIBAR models listed in the Vision catalogue are declared at 0 dBA.
Should the minibar always stay on?
Usually yes, to keep drinks at serving temperature. Declared consumption and the thermostat setting help estimate the yearly cost.