Contactless

This year’s HT-NEXT conference took place “online everywhere” on December 1 through 3.

With the right order ahead, curbside, and contactless payments tech, restaurants can steer customers away from, or reduce reliance on, third-party delivery.

Increased flexibility and sanitation are also poised to characterize lodging industry in 2021, says GlobalData.

In their entirety, the most-read hotel stories are a how-to guide of sorts for hoteliers looking to make the right investments for the current times. Operational efficiency, guest relations, contactless and future-proof technologies were among the common themes of 2020’s most read stories.

Expect new trends to include a new type of guest, a new channel by which to reach customers, and an emphasis on personalization greater than we’ve ever seen before.

In just a few years, hotel technology that is considered cutting edge today will be standard operating procedure.

COVID-19 response dominated the headlines. Restaurant operators are rolling out solutions at warp speed; the most read stories included case studies on how restaurants were pivoting, communicating with customers where they are, the path forward and of course new tech solutions designed for the times.  

A delivery strategy is a must-have for your restaurant. Consumer demand for delivery continues to increase, and is becoming a consumer expectation.