Technology Drift in the Hospitality Domain for 2019

With the advent of technology in every other domain, it is no surprise to spread its veins in the Hospitality industry. Today, the concept of hotels have transformed into an unimaginable way for a human mind. What once seemed to be a regular room with a lock, on rent, is now much more than that with tons of new features and comforts for the visitor. Modern technologies like hotel housekeeping software, mobile door keys and AI are a boon to the hotel industry. Let’s eye upon some of the trending techs in this field-

Robots and Chatbots

Robots are among the latest and trending change brought in the hospitality realm. They are used for multiple purposes like serving dinner, luggage porters and even front-desk staff. These bots are modified using AI and Machine learning algorithms to carry out repetitive tasks usually occurring in the hotel industry. In a few Japanese hotels, these robots are tasked to answer customer queries and doubts like a personal assistant or guide in a tour. They have not only reduced human labour but are also the centre of attraction for visitors all around the world who seek personal attention during their stay.

Portable Mobile Door Key

Hotels are now ditching up the old methodologies of turning a uniquely shaped key into a lock to open up rooms and switching onto the new tech called the Mobile door key. The mobile door key is a unique code given to the customer in his mobile at the front desk, which can be scanned by a scanner present at the room’s door to unlock it. They use the NFC (Near Field Communication) technology or the virtual scanning methods to implement this tech. This method has been proved to be more advanced, secure and convenient for the guests.

Facial and Voice Recognition Technologies

Artificial Intelligence has changed the way we communicate and move around the world. Facial recognition is now used by many hotels to access the client details, register them for check-in and check-out, and allow them to open their rooms. Facial recognition and Voice recognition methods are used as biometric security in the hotel industry to allow access to the guests as per their residence packages. Voice recognition is being used hotels in Japan to accurately serve to a customer needs and act as a personal assistant to them like Alexa. There has even been news that Amazon is working on the customization of Alexa for the hospitality industry.

The Automatic Surveillance using Iot

There have been advanced changes and possibility with the help of Internet of things which allows a user to remotely access control to their room with their smartphone. The hotel industry is using IoT to allow users to turn on/off the lights, fans, air-conditioners, music systems and geysers in the room. This technology has helped a lot to attract users and provide them comfort. For instance, guests tend to switch on the Air-conditioner a few minutes before they reach the room in summer days, to find an already cold room when they reach there.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality has been playing a big role in the marketing and promotions of hotels in the domain. They are used by the hospitality industry to give customers a full 360-degree tour of their hotel, allowing them to experience and move through every corner of their hotel, sitting remotely at their place. The best part which is making Virtual Reality more popular these days is its cost-effectiveness and efficiency in displaying offerings of a hotel. They are uploaded on the hotels’ website or mobile app for customers to live in the experience.

Smartphone Applications

They are among the trending marketing strategies used by the hospitality realm. Hotels deploy customized smartphone apps to their guests which can be used for different purposes. A hotel in China provides mobile apps to their customer, which gives a customized tour plan map of sightseeing places planned by the guest and keeps him updated about the history and facts of his current location. Such hotel management software also provides options for virtual payments, discount offers and trending things to do around them.

Conclusion

These technologies are trending in the hospitality domain but are yet to hit the local market. To get a taste of these hotels, you need to particularly try out a few popular ones working on these technologies. Anyhow, this is the future of the hotel industry and is soon going to change the perspective through which people look at the hospitality domain.