Hospitality In-Room Technology Trends

In-room technology is one of the ways through which modern hotels appeal to their guests. Many customers, for example, embrace the idea of a smart hotel room. It leads to greater convenience and personalization. From the provider’s perspective, installing specific in-room technologies can improve customer experience and increase revenue. 

These technologies can help hoteliers attract more guests and give them more of what they want so they can visit again. If you’re in the hotel industry, here are hospitality in-room technology trends you should consider implementing.

Wine-On-Demand

This technology is currently available in luxury hotels to give customers a wine-tasting experience. It involves installing electronic wine dispensers stocked with local, award-winning brands functioning like water or ice machines on smart fridges. 

This technology allows customers to select the amount of wine they want, as opposed to sticking to a complete bottle. It makes guests feel more at home and it encourages them to enjoy their stay in hotel rooms instead of just using them for sleeping.

Room service apps

Today, in-room guests don’t have to grapple with bulky menus. They don’t have to make awkward phone calls to place their orders. Instead, they can utilize web-based room service apps on their smartphones and mobile devices. 

This technology delivers a greater level of personalization, which gives guests the option to order through their web address or by scanning a QR code located on their nightstand. After placing the order, customers can track their delivery in the comfort of their rooms by only hitting a few buttons. 

Personalized social media messaging

Through social media direct messaging, hotel guests can easily link up with their staff without picking up the phone or downloading extra apps. By using popular social media platforms such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, guests can quickly reach out to their staff while in their rooms. 

Even before their stay, they can complete automated surveys and answer questions that allow hotel service providers to meet their requests and give them a personalized service experience. 

Touch screen, HD voice-controlled thermostats

Thanks to IoT, in-room guests can use this technology to regulate room temperature and lighting systems. It works through interactive voice and touchscreen interfaces that deliver a new experience to these important aspects of the hotel space. 

Many hotels today have built-in sensors that detect when an occupant leaves the room for an extended time. In that situation, they dim lights and regulate temperature, and help hoteliers save more energy. Additionally, visitors can adjust their thermostats at any time by using voice commands to the smart gadgets.

No-app video chat

This technology allows guests to link up with hotel staff in a video chat without downloading any app. According to experts in the hospitality industry, customer service videos are one of the ways to make visitors happy. This technology allows guests to scan a QR code that links them directly to the front desk or customer service team.

Consequently, they can have their problems solved in real-time. Besides, it’s a nice way to bring back the human element into the increasingly tech-dominated culture of the hospitality industry.

Service robots 

The use of service robots is an emerging trend in the hospitality industry. This technology has become prevalent in the era of COVID-19 when hotels are grappling with challenges of reduced staff and health protocols. Instead of using human employees, guests can use robots to help with basic services like laundry transportation and snack delivery. 

This technology allows human employees to focus on productive engagements with their time. Besides, it helps cut the cost of employing more staff. It utilizes concepts such as rolling bins and smiling drawer sets, which can work at any time of the day or night.

According to Fortune Business Insights™, the global luxury good market size was USD 316.16 billion in 2019. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with luxury goods witnessing a negative demand shock across all regions amid the pandemic.

Interactive TVs

This in-room technology is gaining popularity in modern high-end hotels where guests can expect the best when it comes to in-room televisions. It involves the upgrading of TV monitors with newer models and features such as HDR, Wide Color Gamut, or Ultra HD to enhance their streaming experience. 

In-room tablets

In-room tablets are a new technology that allows guests to conveniently borrow the facility’s devices such as laptops and iPads when they break out theirs. It adds a wow factor to the in-room amenities list and a timely solution to the audience.

On the other hand, hoteliers can use the devices to promote events, re-booking offers and specials, as well as loyalty programs. This is possible by using locked screen background images and pre-downloaded apps. 

Smart energy management

An average hotel spends up to $2,196 on energy expenses per room of a hotel’s overall expenses. Smart energy management technology works to help hoteliers accomplish two main objectives. First, it reduces energy expenses. 

Secondly, it contributes to the global campaign to reduce environmental impact by focusing on sustainability. In the long-term, it contributes to a good cause and helps reduce the everyday cost of doing business. 

Maintenance AI

This technology works more in favor of hoteliers, notifying them of important issues. For example, IoT analytics can notify providers of how frequently they can expect to receive maintenance requests from particular guest demographics. The same applies to electronic and plumbing issues, as well as routine equipment servicing. 

Customized showers

Hospitality industry experts envisage a situation where smart showers will become the norm in the next one-and-a-half decades. Some hotels have already implemented the technology, which involves installing showers with keypads and display screens for users to adjust accordingly. The technology allows users to adjust their showers according to their body temperature. 

Lights

Led lights are used for hospitals to give a more professional look to their property. Modern LED light is found in hospitals all over the world. It is known for its energy efficiency, durability, and a wide variety of colors it produces.

Final Thoughts

Technology in the hospitality industry continues to advance, even as the world works to unravel the mystery of the Coronavirus and abate its effects. This list might not be exhaustive, as more in-room technologies surface up. 

Sooner rather than later, the industry is likely to see even in-room exercise concepts with technologically enabled equipment and preloaded mind and body morning routines. In-room air filter systems are also likely to come up to help allergic guests deal with issues that might arise from pollen, pets, and overall air pollution. 

Meanwhile, the mentioned hotel in-room technologies are already used to improve guest’s experience in hotels across the world.

Technology