Enhancing Hotel Guest Experiences with 10 Cutting-Edge Technologies
Promises of frictionless stays with the comforts of home appeal to travelers. And they have plenty of options for leisure and business trips. To compete with host-like experiences provided by short-term rentals, hospitality leaders must leverage the guest-facing technology landscape. Doing so allows hoteliers to add an element of luxury while supplying in-room technology that’s as good as or better than their guest’s homes.
Hotel executives are remapping the guest experience. But, they’re not doing it alone. Telecom partnerships pair hotel leaders with specialized hospitality consultants, allowing them to develop a reliable, scalable roadmap for technology adoption that fits their specific needs. Discover 10 ways to redefine your hotel guest experience with expert advice on where to start.
Smart Room Controls
The smart home consumer market has created new guest expectations for guest experience and hotel stays. People are familiar with smart home gadgets and want the same control over their spaces when traveling. The Internet of Things (IoT) lets guests power lights, temperature, and entertainment through voice or mobile technologies. It satisfies their desire for convenience and comfort.
The traveler’s appetite for personalization and the hotelier’s need for energy efficiency are spurring investment in IoT hardware. Indeed, hospitality leaders purchased 3.2 million smart hotel room devices in 2022. But hoteliers must centralize control through an IoT platform to realize the full benefits of IoT.
When considering smart room amenities, work with your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to identify the following:
- The specs of any current hardware your new platform needs to accommodate
- Specific use cases that solve high-priority problems
- Requirements for industry-standard radio and communication protocols
- Architecture updates to ensure flexibility
- IoT hardware manufacturers with robust partner ecosystems
- Benchmarks for security, reliability, and affordability
- Although IoT solutions transmit less data (because the software is configured to look for specific usage, trends and thresholds), the hotel may want to speak with their ISP to ensure they have adequate speed and bandwidth for the collection of real-time data.
- Managed cloud services to collect, store and analyze the data
Voice-activated Assistants
Increasingly, guests crave simplified hotel interactions. Voice-activated assistants make it easier to request guest services or control the climate. Travelers can check the weather, schedule a massage, or change the room temperature by interacting with a conversational voice interface powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
Hoteliers can take AI-enabled amenities to the next level with custom hotel-branded voice assistants. These tools can greet guests by name and remember their preferences, from workout habits to food allergies. With a flexible platform, hospitality leaders can build upon existing functions to deliver value.
However, 56% of Hospitality Technology survey respondents worry about privacy or security issues when interacting with voice-controlled devices. Therefore, hotel executives should ask the following questions when evaluating voice platforms:
- Is the platform purpose-built for hotel environments?
- How does the hardware reset upon guest check-out?
- Who owns the exchanged data?
- Can the hotel control the voice assistant responses?
- What integration partners does the vendor offer?
Virtual Reality Experiences
Virtual Reality (VR) is an emerging technology for enhancing in-room entertainment and local area exploration. It’s suitable for business and leisure travelers, allowing guests to relax in VR spaces or join immersive conferences for remote collaboration. Hoteliers use virtual reality to personalize entertainment through full 360-degree videos.
Choose hardware-agnostic software to future-proof your VR program. It should support diverse use cases for professional and personal use. Work with your technology provider to determine processing power, resolution and image quality, and space requirements.
High-Speed, Reliable Connectivity
For end-to-end digital experiences, hotels require highly reliable networks and bandwidth. Fast, secure Wi-Fi powers most in-room tech, from voice-activated assistants to personal guest devices. Consequently, it has the most significant impact on the guest experience.
Guests can’t seamlessly access streaming or gaming services without latency-free, high-capacity connectivity. Devices are slow to respond. And smart guest room amenities miss expectations, resulting in subpar experiences. Advanced network solutions are a game-changer. A well-built system provides stable, scalable infrastructure. It equips your hotel business to meet guest needs today and beyond.
Here’s what to look for in telecom companies to ensure the best network infrastructure:
- Proven experience supplying internet and managed Wi-Fi services to the hospitality industry, including major hotel brands
- Ability to furnish custom hotel Wi-Fi networks to meet your property and brand’s exact specifications
- Specialized knowledge in integrating the latest hotel technologies
- Local installation services requiring zero downtime and minimal guest disruptions
- An end-to-end provider, from site surveys to extensive quality assurance testing
- Round-the-clock technical and help desk services
- Bandwidth management solutions like customer dashboards for viewing network activity in real-time
- Hotel Wi-Fi security has come under A LOT of scrutiny from guests, the media and federal law enforcement (source). We should add a bullet that speaks to cybersecurity.
Automated Check-in and Check-out
Many travelers don’t want to wait at the front desk to confirm details they can handle online. Contactless check-in and check-out systems via smartphones or kiosks are convenient and user-friendly. They’re features that guests rate as moderate to extremely important and invaluable for hospitality managers experiencing staffing issues.
Hotels can further streamline processes by offering keyless room entry with digital keys. These types of low-touch guest experiences give visitors greater control without sacrificing personalization.
When implementing automated services, consider the following:
- Integration services from your telecom provider to ensure seamless connectivity to your property management system
- Which methods your automated system will support, such as browser-based, mobile app, and kiosk services
- Security features for identification and verification, like biometric tools and electric signature capabilities
- Hardware with wireless connectivity technology that supports soft essential operation through near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi
Advanced Cleaning and Sanitation Technologies
For many guests, the pandemic forever changed their perception of safety and hygiene. It increased their awareness of how germs travel and remain on surfaces. Hotel managers can show guests that their facility prioritizes cleanliness using UV-C robots, air purification systems, and IoT-enabled sensors.
Of these options, IoT-enabled sensors are the most affordable option. They integrate with your existing IoT platform and alert cleaning crews to spaces requiring attention. Sensor-based technologies can also improve your HVAC performance. Yet, guests won’t see or notice these devices.
In comparison, UV-C robots disinfect surfaces of bacteria, spores, fungi, and viruses. But they don’t replace manual cleaning of inaccessible areas. Air purification systems can give guests the greatest piece of mind, as they may use them in their homes. Talk to your telecom provider when selecting cleaning and sanitation technologies. They can help you identify cost-effective solutions that integrate with existing software, allowing you to improve cleaning capabilities while automating processes.
Mobile Apps
Mobile apps add value to your guest’s stay, making it more convenient to access deals, control room settings, or request assistance. A concierge app allows those who prefer self-service to explore hotel amenities from the comfort of their room.
Check with your current software vendors to see if they offer guest-facing mobile apps or have a list of preferred partners. Managed service providers specializing in integrating hotel applications may also offer solutions through their partner ecosystem.
Engage Guests Throughout Hospitality Properties with Wayfinding Tools
You can use digital signs and wayfinding tools across your hotel property to accomplish many goals. For larger venues, interactive wayfinding systems offer turn-by-turn directions and may connect to smartphone apps for personalized assistance. These also share real-time information bi-directionally, promoting a premium service or discount as guests approach the location.
With hotels of all sizes looking for ways to automate without losing the human touch, self-service kiosks are another solution. These promotional and informational displays with interactive functionality allow guests to find answers to frequently asked questions or business leaders to see real-time schedule changes.
Modern guests at large hospitality properties appreciate the aesthetically pleasing and functional solutions Cox deploys. We integrate digital screens that enhance guest experiences while giving your teams accessible real-time data.
Data Analytics and Personalization
Aside from high-speed internet access, data analytics has the most potential to impact your guests. Every advancement in hotel technology supplies data about visitor activities, from room preferences to Wi-Fi usage. Hoteliers can leverage this information to personalize and improve nearly every aspect of a guest’s stay.
Imagine an integrated system that adjusts in-room settings, so your guests walk into a space precisely how they like it. A Wi-Fi landing page can deliver relevant content for business or leisure travelers. Your guests can also receive personalized offers (based on previous visits) on their cell phones.
Craft unforgettable guest experiences while respecting privacy by:
- Identifying data sources, from Wi-Fi to booking engines
- Developing guest experience metrics
- Integrating systems for data sharing
- Creating and conveying a privacy policy
- Enlisting a managed service provider to maintain IT security
- Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
In-room technologies like smart thermostats reduce energy consumption without sacrificing guest comfort. Automated check-ins with digital keys reduce plastic usage, while sensors optimize resource use by prioritizing housekeeping and maintenance tasks.
Operational efficiencies improve your bottom line, but there’s also a consumer desire to support sustainable, energy-efficient destinations. According to Booking.com, “78% of global travelers intend to stay in a sustainable property at least once in the coming year.” Along with reducing their environmental impact, 31% of respondents believe “sustainable properties treat the community better,” and 19% perceive them “as stylish and trendy.”
Use these tips to implement eco-friendly initiatives and track their impact:
- Select technology partners with a documented history of helping hospitality businesses develop environmentally conscious practices
- Review your current technologies to see if you can improve oversight of energy and resource usage
- Identify remote management, sensors, monitoring, and analytics tools that help you meet objectives and keep your property green
Redefining Guest Experiences with Technology
Today’s cutting-edge technology can deliver effortless experiences for your guests. When configured correctly, technology does what it does best—it works in the background, silently keeping everything running smoothly for guests and hotel operators.
By building a solid foundation, hotels can eliminate the friction from living in a connected world. Travelers can access room controls or get an update on their service request from their TV or mobile app. Devices stay connected. Your guests can click on personalized promotions instead of swiping past them.
Today’s modern hospitality and room technologies give guests greater control over their stay, improve comfort levels, and simplify hotel interactions. These conveniences also add a touch of luxury and personalized guest experiences. Establish a reliable foundation for your hotel’s digital transformation and develop a strategy that enhances operational efficiencies while improving guest satisfaction and guests will share those experiences and return again and again.
