Smart Hotels, Happy Guests: The Future of Hospitality Lies in Connectivity
Today’s travelers increasingly look for smooth, integrated experiences throughout every aspect of their journey. From the initial booking to the final check-out, technology has revolutionized the hospitality industry, ensuring that every step is tailored to meet the guest’s needs. In this new digital era, convenience isn’t just an option – it’s a standard, and hotels are responding with innovations that enhance and elevate the guest experience at every turn.
The future of smart and sustainable hotels hinges upon robust and reliable connectivity. Smartphones are making hotels feel like a home away from home, offering features such as personalized recommendations, in-room controls and quick access to room service. These devices are at the nexus of both guest and hotel convenience, but they require a fast, secure Wi-Fi network and efficient web apps to function effectively. Understanding the need for strong connectivity requires an exploration of the key trends accelerating the digitalization of the hospitality industry.
Revolutionizing Hotel Operations for the Digital Era
The effects of COVID-19 on hotel operations are still being felt globally, with staffing shortages proving to be a significant hurdle. According to a recent survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), 76% of US hoteliers are experiencing insufficient staffing, a challenge made more pressing by increased hotel demand[1]. Smart technology is therefore greatly enhancing the ability to optimize staff productivity and elevate the overall guest experience.
Digitalized operations streamline the guest experience from check-in, allowing guests to bypass queues and access their room via a digital room key on their smartphone. Throughout their stay, guests can also enjoy the instant convenience of online ordering systems. This not only enhances guest satisfaction, but also enables staff to view and share information across departments, fostering better collaboration to meet guests’ needs more efficiently.
Smartphone apps can also be utilized to adjust room settings, such as temperature and light, providing a convenient way to create a comfortable environment with just a few simple taps.
Restaurants are increasingly adopting QR codes to enhance the efficiency of ordering and payment processes. This allows staff to focus on providing a more personalized experience and uses collected customer data to generate tailored food and beverage recommendations and incentives for future visits.
The Rise of Personalized Guest Experiences
Artificial Intelligence plays a crucial role in delivering personalized experiences, both within and outside the hotel doors. For instance, AI can be used to remember the preferred room settings of regular guests and offer tailored suggestions for activities based on past visits or current weather conditions. The addition of 24/7 AI chatbots means that guests receive uninterrupted support throughout their entire stay.
Sustainability: A Growing Priority for Modern Travelers
With the rise of eco-friendly travel, many guests are seeking hotels that focus on reducing their environmental impact. While often not visible, IoT devices, like smart thermostats and lighting, can remember guest preferences and effectively minimize energy waste.
Additionally, cloud-based management systems reduce the need for physical hardware at the hotel. Cloud providers generally operate with high efficiency, which helps to lower the hotel’s carbon footprint and energy costs.
Canberra’s Little National Hotel is a great example of how to use cloud-based systems effectively. By consolidating printed collaterals onto a tablet, guests can order additional amenities and easily communicate with staff via the integrated telephony capability – all whilst prioritizing sustainability.
Connectivity: The Backbone of Future-Ready Hotels
During peak seasons, some hotels face the challenge of accommodating thousands of guests, making a reliable Wi-Fi connection essential. This is especially true for the Okada Manila Resort Hotel, which can host up to 20,000 guests at its busiest times. With 500 gaming tables and 3,000 slot machines, the resort requires resilient, reliable, and secure network infrastructure to manage data and devices across the entire facility and ensure everyone remains happy and connected.
In our digital age, there is an expectation for connectivity in every aspect of the hospitality industry. Technology that was once considered science fiction, such as AI chatbots and mobile apps are becoming essential tools, and their adoption will only accelerate in the coming years.
At the heart of a thriving hotel, facilitating the use of these tools, is reliable Wi-Fi, a seamless integration of wired and wireless networks, and unified communication systems.
Looking forwards, the hotels that will succeed in 2024 and beyond will be those that prioritize connectivity, empowering guests with frictionless digital control and displaying a commitment to sustainability.