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Top 5 trends that hotels can expect to continue post 2021
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Friday, 03 September, 2021, 14 : 00 PM [IST]
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Pallab Goswami
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The pandemic is an eye-opener for the hospitality industry. Keeping track of consumer demands and expectations is the predominant aspect of the development of any industry. In this Covid situation, the client's expectations are constantly turning. Accordingly, we have to adapt and rely on technologies at the end of the day.
Technology is advancing at a faster pace than ever before. Plenty of the trends within the industry are resulting in extraordinary improvements and savings for the hospitality industry. Few are changing how hotel developers plan their buildings, infrastructure, management structure, and staffing requirements.
Mobile check-ins, contactless payments, facial recognition, smart rooms, chatbots, voice search, and voice control are some of the vital technology the hospitality industry has invested in to ensure the hygiene and safety of the consumers.
Cloud-Based Trend
Delivering the consumers quality entertainment, they require on a snap, and online mobile content has led to the inclination of hotels to invest in cloud services. While hotels aspire to be able to offer digital content, they don’t necessarily want to invest in IT infrastructure and IT staff, making cloud computing the absolute solution.
The initial capital investment is lower than IT infrastructure and servers. Apart from this, It gives hotels the versatility to expand and improve their IT demands along with tremendous business growth. Investing in upgrades without causing a complete IT system overhaul and removes the administrative burden of managing an IT system in-house. Cloud computing is becoming the norm and we will continue to see hotel groups replacing their legacy IT infrastructure with cloud solutions.
Cryptocurrency Trend
Cryptocurrency is a big deal now! People are making huge investments in blockchain technologies. Cryptocurrency is presumed to shift the e-wallet systems. Many contemporary hotels are planning to incorporate cryptocurrency as an alternative method for payments. Implementing this will promote your hotels to value themselves as modernized and trendy! And bring in more customers to utilise your services.
Contactless Trend
Post-Covid, Amenities like contactless check-in and check-out, room service, housekeeping, and food delivery platforms will attract customers and make them feel comfortable and protected. Many hotels have already started implementing it. Adapting to change and delivering the exact customer need is only possible with these innovative technologies hereafter. Relying on these Advanced technologies is the ultimate way in business recovery when the economy starts opening up.
It is essential to earn consumer's trust at this point. Post-Covid customers have become more aware of safety and hygiene. Unless and until we ensure consumer's safety, they are not going to choose us. Moreover, implementing innovative technologies will make the hotels more comfortable and luxurious. The experience provided will be completely fresh and distinct. Consumers are attracted to hotels that offer a better experience.
Automation Trend
Automation technology is transforming the hospitality industry to organise self-service facilities to efficiently enhance the customer's hotel experience. There are numerous methods in which hotels can incorporate the use of automated processes. The simple method is the introduction of self-service kiosks which enable customers to check in and out during their stay.
Automation doesn’t mean that customer experience solely can happen online and through devices, check-ins, and online comments. These experiences need to be part of an integrated dynamic system. Few hotels are trying to produce a completely human-free experience through the use of multiple integrated automated systems. Customers can check-in using their reference details through mobile applications.
This provides the consumers a fresh and unique experience. Whenever the consumers are offered something different they get excited. Automation is completely new and different so the consumers will have a great guest experience.
Social Media Trend
Social Media Platforms rule the Earth! It returns everything to the tip of your fingers. Plenty of guests these days don't want to be bothered by the hotel staff anymore. Few hotels have already found a way! Send notifications and messages through these social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, or Instagram messenger. Implementing this feature will help the hotel employees to be in touch with the guests. Keep the employees informed about the guest preferences and conserves a lot of time during the service.
Innovative and profitable technologies are improving day by day. It is fundamental for Hotels to adapt to these new technologies to have solid progress and a profitable future. It is essential to bring in fresh and latest technologies to attract customers.
(The author is vice president at EVPL, business head – EaseRoom & EaseMedia)
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