What Technological Innovations Would You Add to a Hotel?
In a quest to uncover the next big technological innovation for hotels, we reached out to CEOs, COOs, Founders, and other industry experts for their unique insights. From the idea of a personalized digital itinerary for guests to the futuristic concept of facial recognition for check-in, discover the top 10 innovations these leaders believe could revolutionize the hospitality industry.
- Personalized Digital Itinerary for Guests
- In-Room Bluetooth Music Streaming
- Comprehensive Hotel Mobile Application
- Advanced Guest Management System
- Improved Loyalty Management in Hotels
- AI-Assisted Luggage Handling
- Robotic Housekeeping Services
- Cryptocurrency Integration in Hotels
- In-Room Water Filtration System
- Facial Recognition for Check-In
Personalized Digital Itinerary for Guests
Working in the hospitality sector, I understand the value of having your trip planned, even if you are only somewhere for a short stay. If it’s a new location for you, it can be tough to know which restaurants are good, or what you can see and do while you’re there.
I think more hotels should implement a personalized itinerary sent to your phone that details what you can do for the days you are there. If you have food allergies or preferences, then the restaurants that are suggested will coincide.
This will provide a more personalized experience for guests and also help to increase profits for this particular area.
Paulina Burbano De Lara, CEO, Metropolitan Touring
In-Room Bluetooth Music Streaming
I can’t count the number of times I have returned to my hotel and just wanted to chill out and listen to some music before going to sleep. These days, all my music comes from my phone or computer. In the current environment, that means putting on headphones.
I would be so happy to pair it with an available Bluetooth sound system in my room. Granted, hotels would probably need to put a ceiling on the volume, but it’s an issue that TVs already require them to manage.
Trevor Ewen, COO, QBench
Comprehensive Hotel Mobile Application
One technological innovation I would suggest for a hotel is implementing a comprehensive mobile application. This application would allow guests to perform a variety of functions, such as remote check-in and check-out, digital key access, room service ordering, amenity booking (like spa services or gym slots), and access to local travel and tourism information.
In the era of smartphones, guests appreciate having control at their fingertips, and this kind of application could significantly enhance the guest experience while reducing the burden on front desk staff. It’s a win-win situation that marries convenience and efficiency.
Michael Sena, Founder and CEO, SENACEA
Advanced Guest Management System
One technological innovation I would add to a hotel is an advanced guest management system. With this system, hotel management can seamlessly track guest preferences, manage reservations, and streamline check-in and check-out processes.
By integrating with mobile apps and digital platforms, guests can enjoy a seamless and personalized experience, from pre-arrival to post-departure. Additionally, incorporating smart devices and IoT technology in hotel rooms, such as smart thermostats, voice-controlled assistants, and automated lighting systems, can enhance energy efficiency, guest comfort, and overall sustainability.
Leveraging artificial intelligence and data analytics, the guest management system can also provide valuable insights to optimize operations, personalize services, and improve guest satisfaction. By embracing technological innovations in hotel management, we can elevate the guest experience, drive operational efficiency, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.
Johan Hajji, CEO and Founder, UpperKey
Improved Loyalty Management in Hotels
I’d advocate for more advanced loyalty management in hotels, particularly independent ones. Despite its potential to increase guest lifetime value, this strategy is often overlooked. Today, many hotels are tied to platforms like Booking.com, surrendering 20% of their revenue in fees—a steep cost.
By upgrading their loyalty tech stack, these hotels could redirect saved costs towards incentivizing guest loyalty—perhaps a special offer or a token of appreciation, funded by the saved booking fees. A prime example is a certain independent hotel in the Swiss Mountains we frequent. Despite its high-end reputation, it lacks effective loyalty management, a missed opportunity!
Rafael Sarim Özdemir, Founder and CEO, Zendog Labs
AI-Assisted Luggage Handling
The AI luggage handler would use robotic technology to autonomously transport, store, and retrieve guests’ luggage, based on room assignment and check-in/out data. For guests, it eliminates the waiting time for their luggage to arrive in their rooms, enhancing their check-in experience.
Hotels benefit too, by reducing the manual labor involved in handling luggage, resulting in cost savings. This technology can reduce the expenses on potential compensation for misplaced items, and the cost of employing extra staff for luggage handling. With less physical work, hotel staff can shift to roles involving higher intellectual engagement and creativity.
Alexandra Dubakova, Head of Marketing, Freetour.com
Robotic Housekeeping Services
One technological innovation that I would add to a hotel is one that has already started slowly emerging: housekeeping robots.
Housekeeping is quite a tedious job and, for some aspects of the role, we have yet to find a solution. However, this does not mean that we can’t automate some of the process. One such thing that a robot could do is provide some cleaning services, such as vacuuming. In addition to this, one of the major benefits that they could bring is transportation, either of your luggage up to your room or room service.
I know that, in some parts of the world, robot assistants are already being used in restaurants to take orders. This would fit in perfectly at a hotel too. Not only could orders be taken, either as room service or in a restaurant if the hotel has one, but the robot could check in on customers to ensure that everything is fine with their order.
Aiden Higgins, Senior Editor and Writer, The Broke Backpacker
Cryptocurrency Integration in Hotels
Imagine stepping into a hotel where the old-world charm of hospitality meets the cutting-edge technology of cryptocurrencies.
My proposal? A comprehensive cryptocurrency payment system. Picture this: You check into your room, not with a credit card, but with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or even a hotel-specific token.
But the innovation doesn’t stop at payments. Imagine earning loyalty points not as mere points, but as crypto tokens. Each stay enriches your digital wallet, and these tokens can be redeemed for a spa day, a gourmet dinner, or even your next vacation.
This isn’t just about catering to the crypto-savvy. It’s about embracing transparency, enhancing security, and opening up exciting new revenue streams as hotels become active participants in the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies.
This fusion of hospitality and crypto technology could be the game-changer, making your hotel stay not just a memory, but an investment in the future.
John Kyprianou, Crypto Researcher, Crypto Academy
In-Room Water Filtration System
One (kind of) technological innovation I would add to any and every hotel would be adding water filters of some kind into every room. All hotels have sinks and bathrooms that can provide tap water, but very few hotels have drinking water stations in their dining areas and lobbies for people on the go or for those who wish to have their tap water filtered.
A simple solution to this can be adding portable water filters in every room of a hotel and making sure that no hotel guests take them after using the room. This policy can be enforced by charging guests a certain amount of money, on top of their room expenses, if the hotel staff realizes that a filter is missing from a certain room.
Chris Hunter, Director of Customer Relations, ServiceTitan
Facial Recognition for Check-In
A technological innovation I would add to a hotel is facial recognition for check-in. This would enable guests to use a simple scan of their faces in order to check into their room, eliminating the need for physical cards or ID checks when signing in.
Additionally, this would provide improved security benefits as it restricts entry to certain areas of the hotel grounds and verifies that only authorized individuals are able to access these places. It could even be used to record how long a guest has been in the room and send automatic notifications if any unauthorized visitors attempt entry.
Facial recognition is an efficient way to modernize the traditional process of checking into a hotel while also enhancing the security protocols of the facility itself.
Julia Kelly, Managing Partner, Rigits
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