Trends that are driving Hotel Technology
The past several years have been a rollercoaster for the hotel industry. While travel demand surged from its pandemic lows, hoteliers are continually facing additional challenges such as labor shortages, supply chain issues and technology initiatives that need to take priority.? Technology has a growing role to play in everything from 1. Streamlining hotel operations? 2. To?solving staffing dilemmas?and? 3. Enhancing the guest experience.
There are some keyways technology has changed since the worst of the pandemic. Emphasis has shifted towards 1. Contactless technologies, 2. Virtual experiences and 3. Improved hygiene practices.
The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of mobile, contactless, and remote services to minimize physical contact and ensure guest safety.?
Hotels are adopting technology to enhance safety, improve operational efficiency and attract guests. Hotels are now prioritizing solutions that enable contactless services and enhanced cleanliness.
Technology investment strategies have shifted to address the concerns and ensure long-term resilience.?At the height of the pandemic, hotels had to prioritize health and safety measures and incorporate technology for touchless and mobile solutions to protect guests and staff. Having recognized the value of this technology, hotel leaders have embraced and implemented additional technology-driven solutions to further personalize and improve the guest experience. The challenge of providing a positive and seamless customer journey while navigating ongoing staffing shortages has led the hotel industry to explore other solutions. Automating processes frees staff members to present a more personalized service to guests. Offering guests self-service options keeps daily functions, like the check-in process, moving quickly and conveniently.”?
Here are the 10 of the best hotel technology trends that are aimed at assisting the labor shortages, enhancing operations and the guest experience and boosting bookings.?These can help improve?operational efficiencies and create?a safer, more personalized environment for guests and hotel staff.?
AI-powered systems like?ChatGPT can improve personalization. Machine?learning enables predictive analytics for demand forecasting and pricing optimization.. AI also can digitize repetitive tasks such as check-in and booking?and?enhance customer service through virtual assistants and chatbots. By analyzing guest behavior and data, hotels can use AI to create personalized experiences for each guest and tailor room reservations and food recommendations.
2.?ROBOTICS?
One of the fastest growing technology trends in the hospitality industry is the rise of robots in hotels. The global market for hotel robots is expected to grow from $79 million in 2020 to $338 million by 2025, at a compound annual growth rate of 32.8 percent, according to a report by Markets and Markets. This growth is being driven by the increasing adoption of robots in the hospitality industry and the growing need for efficient and cost-effective solutions.?“As with many other industries, automation alleviates?staff shortages simultaneously improved?efficiencies?and the possibility of repurposing of workforce to carrying out more valuable tasks and functions?within the operational environment. While it is still the early adoption stage of this emerging technology, there are a lot of practical applications of robots that we are seeing in hotels. The robots are carrying out tasks traditionally performed by humans on-property. For instance, they can be concierges?or oversee elements of?housekeeping or delivery.?
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3. Internet of Things/ Samrt Rooms? IoT devices can enhance guest experience through seamless automation, such as smart lighting, temperature control and voice-activated services.
4.Mobile and Contactless Technologies
Mobile check-ins, digital keyless entry and contactless payment systems improve convenience and safety for guests.The pandemic accelerated the adoption and evolution of emerging technology trends in hospitality. Contact-less technology, in particular, became essential for minimizing physical contact and remote check-ins. And today, the technology’s flexibility and convenience remain important to travelers. More than 70 percent of travelers are more likely to stay at a hotel that offers self-service options, minimizing contact with staff and other guests.
5. Biometric Identification and Facial Recognition Recognition technology is one of the most important emerging overall technology?trends,?and?its potential uses in the hospitality industry are?especially intriguing. In particular, biometrics is used to usher in a new age of seamless authentications, which could benefit hotel processes and customer purchases. This technology can enhance security, streamline check-in processes and enable personalized experiences based on guest preferences. In the future, this technology is also likely to allow for completely seamless purchases, with payments being authenticated by touch.?
6. QR CODES? QR codes help the hospitality industry ease the burden of daily operations. The technology empowers guests to guide their own experiences and satisfies growing expectations for self-service options. Hotels can use customizable, editable and measurable QR codes to collect guest feedback, reward loyalty members and collect digital payments.
7. Virtual and Augmented Reality The virtual reality market is expected to grow from $16.67 billion in 2022 to $227.34 billion by 2029 according to Fortune Business Insights. These technologies can offer immersive experiences for guests, from previewing which guestroom they may want to virtual tours before booking to AR-based navigation and informational guides.
8.?Green Technology Hotel guests are moving sustainability further up their list of must-haves. Nearly 60?percent?of travelers want to spend money at businesses championing and practicing sustainability. To meet demand and appeal to sustainable and socially conscious guests, hotels can install charging stations for electric vehicles and low-flow shower heads,” he continued. “Hotels can also replace paper printouts at check-in or checkout with Digital Keys through Smart Phones
9. Well Designed Apps Apps act as a single hub to manage the guest experience. Well-conceived apps?have?interactive maps, hotel services and event itineraries and offer a way for guests to communicate with hotel staff. It’s important to acquire technology that is scalable, user friendly, cost effective and interfaces with the property-management system at the property. The industry’s rapid adoption to various technologies tends to overcomplicate and overburden management teams with new systems, logins and portals. Speed and ability to integrate with the specific PMS system of a particular brand is most important and is secondary to rolling out a specific platform across all our managed properties at this juncture.
10. Cybersecurity ?According to the 2023 Retail & Hospitality Industry Insights Report by the Retail & Hospitality Information Sharing and Analysis Center, hotels and other accommodation providers rose in cyberattacks from 17th most targeted industry in 2021 to the 12th most targeted industry in 2022.?As more businesses rely on technology to enhance the guest experience, the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches increases. More hotels use technology like cloud-based security, mobile device management solutions and biometric authentication to increase security within their operations,