HOTEL TECHNOLOGY: 4 TRENDS THAT ARE HERE FOR A LONG HAUL

There was a time when having high tech HD television in a hotel room was more than a dream. But now comes the time when we think that the hotel room is no longer sufficient for our needs?

As technology improvements continue at a constant speed, it can be difficult for hotels to move with modern developments. However, the new technologies tend to deliver easiness to the hotel managers, therefore, it is important to move along with the technology and traveler’s trends.

Serviced by technology and the tremendous power of the Internet of Things (IoT), customer expectations are rising. In an industry where the customer's expectation is the main goal to achieve, moving along with the latest technology can be the right means for overcoming this challenge.

Here is the list of 4 hospitality trends that are here for the long haul.

Oracle Report and Artificial Intelligence

According to an Oracle report, Hotel 2025, 68% of hotel operators predict that the use of robots for check-in and checkout will be mainstream by 2025. Many hotels have already adopted AI for the best customer experience and in the meantime, it has become a necessity for the hospitality sector to move on with new technologies.



Jim Holthouser, Executive Vice President for Global Brands at Hilton, stated “this isn’t about reducing staff. That’s not where our minds are whatsoever. But if you can take 100 different routine questions of the front desk, at the end of the day, it helps them answer phones faster, it helps them check people in faster, it frees them up to actually deliver hospitality.”

Mobile Friendly Environment

There was a time when calling the front desk and concierge for assistance was the laziest thing to do.  You need to get up from the bed and reach the hotel extension for calling someone. Today's hotel customers can text hotel team members on Smartphone Apps.

At the Marriott International and Hilton Honors apps, the guest can finish the check-in process before arriving, unlock the room with a mobile key and even text the hotel staff for inquiries.



Other brands, such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Loews Hotels, are developing this technology. According to John Lubanski, an AAA Diamond inspection manager, "a hotel's quality of connective technology will become an industry standard that will factor into how AAA rates properties in the future"

Tech-Savvy Hotel Rooms

In 2018, the guests will be able to see high-tech facilities such as in-room iPads and Wi-Fi access. Deanna Ting, the hospitality editor at Skift, says "smart rooms are the next big thing" All the hoteliers are testing these high tech trends for customer satisfaction.



For example, the Hilton Honors app will soon allow guests to adjust their room lighting, temperature, and TV all from their smartphone, while Marriott International is working for the voice-activated technology, among other features. "All of this is just an effort for hotel companies to fulfill the desire they have to customize and personalize your stay," Ting says. "It helps them as much as it helps guests."

Local Experience for Foreign Travelers

The hotel managers are planning out their strategies which can attract customers in the coming years. The hospitality industry has become very advanced and soon the travelers are going to experience the local favorites into their hotel packages.

Airbnb's division of the hospitality industry has encouraged traditional hotel companies to attract to a growing population of travelers who want to experience local destinations.



Hilton's Waldorf Astoria outposts already offer Unforgettable Experience packages, which include destination-specific experiences in the room rate. For instance, if you stay at the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, you can get a free local experience that includes a camel ride and a dessert dinner for two.

In the coming years, the Marriott Rewards members will have access to Place Pass, a search engine that allows members to book more than 100,000 local experiences across 800 destinations.

Conclusion

The hospitality trends are not limited, by time new trends and developments will be made to attract customers. The upscale hotels like, Hilton and Marriott are already in the line, and the new inventions by these hotels has given a tough competition to other big hotels. If you want to know about more tech trends. Let us know in the comments below.

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