Top Technology Trends Transforming the Hotel Industry

The hotel industry is a major player when it comes to technology trends! However, most hoteliers are unaware of simple hotel technological trends that can help them pivot and become part of the dynamic tech-enabled landscape. It’s a changing world, and hoteliers who change with the times will make it big!

There are several hotel technologies that you can include in your hotel offerings - some are expensive and difficult to execute, whereas some are simple and easy enough to be instantly available. Here’s taking a look at some trends that you too, as a hotelier, can indulge in and enhance the overall guest experience. But, first things first…

What is Hospitality Experience in the Tech Sphere?

Technology in the hotel industry can be anything - from simple hospitality software that can upsell your offerings to personalised tangible experiences. And what’s interesting here is that these offerings aren’t always about making a guest’s stay pleasurable, but also about addressing challenges that can come up with hotel operations. One technological change in your hotel can not only increase profits but also increase employee satisfaction. It’s a win-win for all!

Hotel technology isn’t always specifically designed for the hospitality industry - it can just be a commonplace addition that makes your hotel competitive in the already overladen industry. It can help you create and increase a loyal customer base that not only visits again but also leaves positive feedback. Additionally, it can also help you create a more comfortable work environment for your staff.

Technology and hospitality industry can go hand-in-hand, provided you don’t over-stretch your budget or invest in items that aren’t as great. It’s therefore always better to make small changes that can propel you towards a more technologically-oriented landscape that doesn’t break the bank. Listed below are some innovations that you can indulge in, ranging from the easiest options to more advanced ideas.

Smart Streaming Solutions and Intuitive Appliances are the Best Hotel Technologies to Get Started

Smart is now synonymous with technology! Gone are the days when television was considered an idiot box - it no longer is that! It’s quite smart because one login can help you access all your entertainment options, down to the last second of where you left off your movie or show. And offering guests this simple service can make a world of difference.

Most airBnBs now offer smart televisions in their homes, giving guests the feel-good experience that they require after a day of touring around. Hotels, however, are still slow to the game. They’re invested in pay-per-view cable models, which, honestly, no longer work. Instead, just installing a smart TV can act as a notch up and help you indulge in hospitality technology trends without a lot of effort or money!

If you can’t install new television sets, you can always get a fire TV setup in every room - it’s that simple. This will allow your guests to have a home-like experience in the comfort of a hotel room. In addition to this, you can have a small QR code near the TV, allowing guests to order in-room service, thereby removing the need for paper menus everywhere. It’s easy to do and will help you gain brownie points in terms of sustainability.

Apart from this, if you have money to invest, you can install smart mirrors in bathrooms that inform guests of the latest news, weather, nearby places, etc. Other smart devices include smart coffee machines, smart curtains, smart lighting, and more. When you think about it, there are so many things you can do to get on the hospitality technology bandwagon.

Gig+ (WiFi 6) Can Enhance Both Guest and Operational Experience

WiFi 6, also known as Gig+, is not just any internet connection! It’s a connection that offers 30% more speed than all previous WiFi versions. As such, it’s natural to have the same installed in your hotel. With most of the world now working remotely, you can expect to have guests who want stable internet. Add to that the installation of smart televisions in the rooms - and you might end up with bad WiFi, which is a sure-shot recipe for disaster.

Therefore, installing not just any internet modem, but WiFi 6 can do wonders for your business. This latest technology can easily become hotel tech as it offers a next-gen connection that supports several devices working simultaneously without any speed drops. As part of your hotel property, it can be a game changer in customer service.

With its help, you can install several smart devices in hotel rooms without worrying about them not working. Smart devices like televisions, thermostats, speakers, and locks - all require internet, and when that’s stable, you offer guests a seamless, more technology-driven solution. It’s an appealing offering to have and promote.

Furthermore, having the latest in internet tech can help you increase efficiency - tasks that require the internet like Channel Management, PMS, and other integrations, will load faster and much more easily. So say goodbye to old WiFi, and say hello to the latest hospitality technology trends.

Chatbot Integration Allows for 24/7 Communication with Guests

One of the most significant hotel technology trends is the integration of chatbots for guest communication. And guests are expecting it! Now, you may think of chatbots as taking away the human side of customer handling. However, that’s not true.

With guests coming to you from varied time zones, it’s not always possible to have a dedicated staff member answering queries. Adding that as an offering can cost you, and not adding that means replying to customers hours late.

Enter hotel chatbots - practical options that allow for seamless communication. With a list of customer queries that you regularly get, you can train a bot to help guests with their problems. This means that you no longer need a human staff member to handle guest queries, a bot can do that for you, and at a cheaper price too!

Furthermore, if you invest in a bot that’s powered by none other than ChatGPT, you’re in for a surprise. The software will go beyond answering questions. Instead, it will help you gather information about your guests and pass them on to the human staff so they can offer guests a more personalised and pleasurable stay experience. This also helps in answering questions that are a little more complex and require human intervention.

Facial Recognition is the Latest Hospitality Technology to Explode

It may seem like facial recognition technology is limited to smartphones, but that’s not true. More and more people expect this technology in the hotel industry, because it saves time and is much more secure. And several hotels already have this in place. For starters, this tech enables only authorised personnel and guests to enter the hotel premises. Anybody else who wishes to enter must go through more invasive security measures.

It also streamlines control of different access areas, allowing hotels with different wings the opportunity to restrict access to spaces that aren’t meant for hotel guests. It also allows hoteliers to discard the use of keycards or unnecessary interactions that take time.

With virtual check-in and check-out, you can easily streamline your hotel’s processes and also help staff identify loyal customers for a more personalised stay. The approach is not only innovative but adds a whole ton of security to movement on the hotel premises.

Mobile Keys Streamline the Check-in/Check-out Process

Now, if you don’t wish to invest in facial recognition technology for your hotel, doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a seamless check-in/check-out process. Instead, you can invest a little bit in changing room locks. The latest hotel technology trend is all about letting guests use their smartphones to access their rooms. The tech works via Bluetooth and eliminates the need for key cards.

Mobile key hospitality technology can act as a simple tool to show that you’re changing with the times.

However, unlike installing face tech on your property, this would involve changing all the existing measures that you have with Bluetooth-enabled locks. Unfortunately, if you have a large hotel, this can end up being quite expensive. So, you should weigh your odds and consider which is better for your hotel. Regardless of what you choose, the seamless process will leave a mark on your hotel guests.

Modern Payment Systems Can Benefit Both Staff and Hotel

As mentioned earlier, there’s no specific hotel technology. Instead, existing tech is being leveraged in hotels to enhance the overall guest experience and increase operational efficiency. One such problem area is payments, which are no longer limited to cash or cards. Payments are not digital - scan a QR code, enter a PIN or scan your fingerprint and money goes from one account to another.

The issue with this system, while quite seamless, is that it has some negative aspects. Considering that people no longer carry cash, tips that were earlier generously offered get lost in the middle. As a hotelier, you can help adopt a new and modern payment system that also factors in digital tips and other such services.

Once the system is installed, guests will be able to tip hospitality staff like housekeepers, valets, bartenders, waiters, and bell staff. This will help your staff get the additional income that they rely on. Additionally, it will also help you clear bills at the reception or restaurant (if you have one) much more easily and without any hassles.

Big Data and Cloud Integrations Will Increase Hotel Performance

Big Data and Cloud integrations may not seem like the technological trends that you might be expecting in a hotel-specific trends article, but they’re here. That’s because these two technologies can help you increase your hotel’s outreach multifolds. These advancements not only gather data but allow you to make smart decisions based on your findings.

For instance, you can use data from your email or social media campaigns to see whether the money you’re spending on hotel promotions is even getting you any leads. You can also gather data from guests and use it to offer personalised services or discounts to repeat customers.

Apart from big data uses, cloud technology like a cloud-based Property Management System (PMS) can help you manage reservations, front office operations, invoicing, etc. In addition to this, you can use cloud tech to scale your business and secure it from online attacks.

You can even integrate different cloud solutions so you have one software that takes care of it all. Powered with big data, you can use this in the hospitality industry for security, scalability, and operational accuracy. Furthermore, these systems open ways for better guest experience, personalisation, decreased costs, and automated processes.

AR, VR and Robotics are Trends in Hospitality that You Can No Longer Ignore

Moving on to hospitality technology that isn’t yet mainstream but will soon be - Robotics, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality. All three, while being quite different in their offerings, promise one thing - value-added services. It’s a step into a much different reality than what we’re accustomed to today. Getting this technology in the hotel sphere can push your hotel into a new space altogether, giving guests the experience they never expected.

For instance, some hotels are not using VR to provide hotel room tours, thereby ensuring that the guest is accustomed to his/her living space the moment they arrive. VR tech is also being used in the hospitality industry to offer personalised dining experiences and immersive tours of nearby attractions. For hotels that can’t afford VR, AR is a simpler version of the same tech, allowing guests a chance to see and learn about places from their smartphones.

Robotics, which is yet to go mainstream, is another hotel technology trend gaining traction. Robots are now being employed in place of receptionists, servers, and concierges. The efficient service is executed by trained robots that not only complete tasks seamlessly, but also act as crowd gathers, giving you a unique selling point that you didn’t even know you could have!

Embrace Hospitality Industry Trends While Preserving the Human Touch!

While hotel technologies can be unlimited, it’s the choice that you make that defines the entire guest experience, which is most paramount. In addition to this, these hotel technology trends can help you better manage your staff and resources. Starting from a low-cost investment and going up to robotics, these choices make it easier for any hotelier to step into the tech space while considering the impact it would have on the overall investment.

However, at the core of it all is still the human touch that can't be replaced. These simple investments like smart television sets, automated communication, and seamless check-ins can make life easier not just for you but also for your staff and guests. So, instead of wondering where to start, you can embrace a simple change and gather feedback to understand its benefits.

It’s time to embrace hotel technology trends.

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