Future Hotel Trends

The hospitality industry is changing faster than ever before and it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the entire hotel, travel and hotel management trends impacting this dynamic business. Whether you're looking to start your own hotel, manage one already or are just curious about the travel industry because it's one of the largest and most influential on earth. 

What are the latest trends in the hotel industry? Few themes 

Smart Rooms-The internet of things is spreading not only into homes, but also into hotel rooms. From access to streaming services to a room key on your smartphone, the essential hotel amenities in a guestroom are becoming increasingly digital, Guests want concierge services or temperature controls at the push of a button (or tap of a finger), and voice-activated controls are expanding beyond simply asking Alexa to play your favorite song. These trends might sound futuristic now, but in a few years, guests will expect them. Many of these innovations require only minimal changes to a modern guestroom, so a forward-thinking hotelier can implement them quickly and efficiently. 

1. Bring your own streaming: Portable streaming devices like an Amazon Fire Stick allow guests to pack their own movies or shows in their suitcases, but they can only watch them if the hotel room TV has a USB port. Hotels can also leverage certain platform which allows guests to login to their favorite streaming accounts and then automatically get logged out upon check-out.

2. Wireless device charging: Cords are so last year. Wireless charging transfers power from a charging “mat” to a device like a smartphone or headphones, when the device is placed on the mat. 

3. Smart controls: Digital controls for temperature, light, and power that can be adjusted and programmed with the tap of a finger from a smartphone or other device.

4. Tablet based control: Forget the traditional binder containing information about hotel services; guests want to see restaurant hours, room service menus, spa services, and area recommendations on an in-room tablet which can also play music, control the room’s lights and temperature, and make special requests..

5. Sound proofing tech: The new standard of soundproof windows to minimize noise from traffic, airplanes, or loud music, which means noise complaints, can be gone forever.

6. Voice-activated controls: Upgrade a smart speaker, like an Amazon Alexa, to handle hotel-specific requests to make it possible for guests to use voice commands to request services like housekeeping or valet.

7. Smart mirrors: This high-tech amenity combines a TV screen and a guest room mirror. While shaving or brushing teeth, guests can watch the news, check the weather, or request hotel services. 

8. Keyless entry: A keypad code, a digital version of a room key, or an app on a smartphone eliminates the need for physical room keys and streamlines the check-in process. Keyless entry systems will be completely integrated with the hotel software systems so that guests can control every experience on property from a hotel app.

9. Concierge video chat: With a quick scan of a QR code, communication systems allow guests to talk, text, or video chat with hotel staff in real-time. Guests can skip the walk down to the front desk and staff can answer questions or handle requests quickly and effectively.

10. Smart TVs: Many guests want to watch their favorite Netflix show instead of cable and a Smart TV - integrated internet connection allows viewers to select their favorite streaming service from a catalog of apps.  

Going Green - A focus on environmental sustainability isn’t new, but the degree to which guests expect (and prefer) eco-friendly products and services is. Simply suggesting that guests reuse towels for an extra day isn’t enough; today’s traveler wants to stay at hotels that have integrated green practices in all aspects of their business. From physical changes to hotel buildings, like the addition of solar panels it’s evident that these environmentally friendly trends are here to stay.

11. LEED Certification: Short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, this global LEED certification measures the eco-friendliness of a building. The assessment covers topics like water efficiency and indoor environmental quality, and building can earn Certified, Gold, Silver, or Platinum status.

12. Solar power: Hotels can utilize solar power either by generating power from their own solar panels or by purchasing solar power from their electricity provider and also can lower its energy bills by 35-45%.

13. Water conservation: Any effort to minimize water usage can help a hotel become greener, from implementing slower-flow showerheads to using more efficient laundry machines.  

14. No plastic. Consumers are steering away from plastic, so hotels can react to this trend by replacing plastic straws, cutlery, water bottles, toiletry bottles, and to-go containers with compostable or reusable alternatives. Most major hotel chains are phasing out disposable plastic toiletries and many regulators have even banned them.

15. Motion sensors: Hotels can conserve energy by implementing motion sensors that will turn off the power once no motion has been detected for a certain period of time.

16. Waste disposal: Add more eco-friendly options for waste disposal by introducing recycle bins in guestrooms and compost bins in F&B outlets.

Changing Workforce -While an increasingly digital world means that an employee’s tasks are changing, the workforce itself is changing too. These changes aren’t only in demographics, driven by the rise of Generation Z and a more global workforce, but also evident by a growing focus on safety, unionization and human resources technology. Hoteliers must be cognizant to these changes in the workforce in order to hire effectively, reduce turnover, and keep employees safe and happy.

17. Global workforce and immigration: Technology makes a global workforce possible, with communication tools that can connect teams and drive efficiency. But as economic and political factors complicate immigration or force some people to relocate, hotels may face challenges in hiring or retaining employees.

18. Gen Z: Following the Millennial’s, Generation Z includes young adults born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. These young people are “digital natives,” meaning they’ve never lived in an age without the internet, and their views and habits around technology use and social media may be different than those of older generations.

19. Labor management: With capabilities like scheduling, resource allocation, and time-off requests, labor management systems are crucial addition to every hotel department with staffing requirements and helps hotel owners improve profitability with more efficient labor management.

20. The gig economy: While Uber drivers may be the first thing to come to mind, this growing sector of the economy includes millions of professionals, contractors, and creative who work independently or on a contract basis.

Alternative Accommodations - Today’s travelers has a myriad of options for accommodations; besides traditional hotels, they can choose between vacation rentals, hostels, serviced apartments, treehouses, and even underwater hotels. As people travel more frequently and for longer durations - and as many platforms allow any accommodation provider to reach a large audience online - the characteristics of accommodations themselves are changing. Before long, “alternative accommodations” won’t be strictly an alternative, but part of the mainstream. 

 21. Co-living: Solo travelers or remote workers who stay in one place for a while might opt for a co-living space, which is a community designed specifically for its inhabitants to share living spaces, and sometimes workspaces, with a common attitude or goal.

22. Co-working: As remote work becomes more common, entrepreneurs and remote employees flock to co-working spaces to find not only fast WiFi and desk space, but also community and networking opportunities.  

23. Vacation rentals: Vacation rentals aren’t just for vacation anymore; besides the traditional rental home on the beach, the definition of “vacation rental” can include everything from apartments to cabins. 

24. AirBnB: The popular booking site started as a way to rent a room in someone else’s home for a night, but it now includes entire apartments, luxurious homes, hotel rooms, treehouses, castles, and more. New additions to the site include tours and activities, adventure travel, and hotel inventory after the company’s acquisition of HotelTonight.

25. Mobile hotels: Rather than searching for a new hotel each time you travel, a mobile hotel, which is essentially a self-driving hotel room on wheels, travels with you. Though still in the conceptual stage, it’s a compelling idea for business travelers. We're all used to sleeping on boats during a cruise and European travelers are familiar with luxury train services but how cool would it be to sleep comfortably on a bus and wake up somewhere else?  

26. Underwater hotels: Get up close and personal with marine life and coral reefs at an underwater hotel and also provide facility of underwater dinning.