Pandemic times have accelerated the integration of technologies in the hospitality industry. Find out 10 breakthrough examples to implement in your business.
Hotel API
As the coronavirus outbreak continues to disrupt travel plans, many travelers are looking for ways to save money on their hotel bookings. Hotel API is one of the latest technology trends that are attracting post-COVID travelers by giving them access to competitive prices, real reviews, ratings, and more.
Using a hotel API, hoteliers are able to get pricing and review data from the other hotels in their locations. And, offer undeniable competitive pricing to travelers that suits their budget. Plus guests can also read real reviews from others and get an idea of what to expect from their stay. Additionally, they can check ratings to see how others have rated the hotel.
This is a great way for travelers to save money and make informed decisions about their hotel bookings. So if you’re looking for increasing your hotel bookings, consider investing in hotel API to outperform your competitor hotels.
Technology Implementation in HoReCa Industry
There is a massive disruption in the hospitality industry accredited to a new breed of travelers, the COVID-19 outbreak, and immense technology innovations. Thus, we can feel the huge investment in technology, whether the trends are about information technology, eCommerce, or technical solutions. The goal behind them is to reduce the tasks of employees and enhance more personalized and intuitive guests’ experiences.
Let’s discuss how technologies like robots, augmented reality, and more are now used in the HoReCa industry to delight customers.
Mobile Technologies
Mobile technology is the most popular innovation that hotels integrate into their guest experiences. Branded mobile applications are being suggested by major hotels like Ritz Carlton, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, IHG, or Sheraton, to name a few. Guests can use ChatBot for frequent questions, check-in easily, send pre-check-in requests, contact staff with all urgent questions, unlock the room, and control room features through their personal phone.
It is especially relevant at current times where limited contacts, social distance, and isolation are recommended or even required in some organizations.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Initially, AR is our ability to overlay digital images in the real world. It includes augmented reality development in the hospitality industry as well.
- 3D room tours to give the client a feeling of presence via their phone before booking.
- Virtual windows with forest, beach, or any other view the guest prefers.
- Wall maps to find out more about local places of interest.
- Virtual menu in a restaurant to see how the dish will exactly look like.
- Virtual guests to entertain both adults and children.
- Guest recognition for creating a personalized experience.
- Maintenance information application to notify about road repairs, city areas off the maintenance, etc.
And you can see how this is pushing sales because many people will more likely buy it when they try it or feel cared for.
QR Code
Both hotels and technologies should understand that QR codes have become a new normal and add them. By scanning the code, the guest can check the food menu, check prices, make an order, and pay online. The reason behind this technology is the same ⎼ the social distancing policy and the need to avoid spreading viruses between guests and personnel. It also decreases the need to print a one-use menu for every guest, which leads us to the next environment-friendly technology.
Eco-Friendly Technologies
Hotels quickly respond through brilliant initiatives, including eco-power generation, sourcing local organic produce, adding green areas, installing eco-friendly appliances, and completely removing plastic items from their assets. The sustainability drive is a great initiative and quickly picks momentum due to its multiple benefits to hotels.
Smart Hotels
IoT is not upon us, it’s here, and it’s here to stay. Therefore, Smart hotels and rooms will become “the new black” as travelers sync and share data across multiple devices when staying in hotels. Hotels are investing rapidly in the state of the art smart room features ⎼ partially mobile controlled rooms to streaming media, using voice assistants to order food, etc.
Big data & AI applications are completely redesigning guest experiences from scratch. Big data assists hoteliers and marketers in identifying major trends learning about their guests’ travel behavior in the process.
Service Robots
Robots are becoming a trendy technology used to surprise guests with something special.
Delivering from basic toiletries to food, these robot butlers are a popular sight in franchise hotels like Aloft, Hilton, Renaissance, Crown Plaza, and many more.
Predictive Marketing
Hotels identify revenue opportunities and conduct targeted predictive marketing through the terabytes of guest data accumulated over the years. After Apple Inc.’s successful deployment of Biometrics in phones, hotels quickly adopted the idea. For example, Accor Hotels uses biometrics scans of guests for predictive marketing, while Hotel Alma Barcelona has already deployed fingerprint locks for rooms. Chinese franchise Yotels have handprint readers across all their properties.
Data Security
PCI Compliance & data security are very critical topics in modern hospitality. Hotels are highly interested and are making significant efforts to secure their hotel technology, guest data, and payment information. Enhanced security is usually achieved through compliant hardware, routinely updated software, and continuous staff training.
Nowadays, hotels rely on multiple technology vendors to deliver exceptional service, secure guest data, and manage operational efficiency. And they do the right thing. Social distancing and pandemic isolation has changed many people’s idea of a comfortable holiday and rest. Besides, technologies are everywhere, so it is evident that guests expect them in hotels, inns, and restaurants too. Do not stay behind and attract more customers by creating unique experiences!
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