Disruptive Hotel Technology Trends to Watch in 2022/3

For those of us keeping an eye on hotel technology, distinguishing what trends are here to stay and which are simply a marketing gimmick might be difficult. We can't know what will happen in the future, but we may observe industry patterns as leading indicators. That's precisely what we've done to put up this collection of trends that we think will be significant in 2022.

Despite the industry's progress in recent years, there is still a lot of potential and innovation in many sectors of the hospitality business.

Guest Room Technology Innovation

Hotel stays have never been more convenient for guests worldwide. In recent years, the number of voice-controlled and streaming services that have proliferated in people's homes has grown to be unprecedented: Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime for streaming; Alexa, Google Home, and Amazon Echo for voice; and Nest, as well as other smart-home devices.

Hotels are catching on, adding convenience through streaming, voice activation, guest-room tablets, and food ordering tech.

Volara is the first to market with a thoughtful, Alexa-esque guest room solution. Volara links with the most popular order management systems, allowing guests to make demands and get confirmation when the thing or service they require will be delivered. It also integrates with in-room entertainment - enabling owners to interact with guests in a fun and scalable way.

Bedroom tablets provide convenience in a simple, straightforward upgrade that improves guest satisfaction scores almost immediately. And for marketer savvy staff, tablets offer a new way to send personalised, automated communications generating extra income.

Privacy & Cybersecurity

Hotel chains are a popular target for hackers. Only about 25% of all hotel operators are entirely compliant with current data security standards. N Numerous high-profile malware attacks on the hotel industry have resulted in hundreds of millions of people's data being stolen and millions of pounds in damage. This month, MGM Resorts announced they had been the victim of a data breach that effected 10.6 million customer profiles.

Property owners must do their homework when selecting technology solutions that provide multilayer security, data protection, secure transactions, and compliance with payment legislation and data privacy standards.

Hotels are required to hold staff training on how to handle personal information, adhere to privacy standards like the GDPR, and change their access credentials on a regular basis.

WiFi 6 is coming

While 5G may be the hot topic, WiFi 6 is more useful for property owners. The term "WiFi 6" refers to the next version of Wifi, a faster and more efficient connection made possible by cutting-edge technology.

5G and WiFi 6 will have significant repercussions for visitors who use their smartphones to book and manage their stay. But beyond the visitor experience, hotels can utilise more rapid WiFi to power all those streaming, tablet, and voice-activated gadgets.

With WiFi 6, your hotel can use in-room technology to improve service and generate good guest feedback. Smart thermostats, smart speakers, and smart locks will all perform better with WiFi 6 integration in the industry of the future.

VR and the Metaverse will effect the industry

The first and most vital thing to consider is that VR and the Metaverse will not render traditional travel obsolete, as some people anticipate. Instead, it will co-exist with real-world travel and may even act as a marketing tool to increase its appeal.

Hotels should consider how they can use the Metaverse to immerse guests in their brand and destination. For example, Marriott has already created an avatar-based customer service system that allows guests to explore hotels and experiences.

According to studies, people go on vacation for a sense of escapism and relaxation as well as digital detoxing. To put it another way, some individuals will be on holiday so they can get away from the Metaverse. The Metaverse might be utilised to quickly sell hotel rooms, according to the hotel sector.

Big Data is the New Oil

The sooner you begin extracting guest data for improved consumer insights, the more competitive your hotel will be. Data has now become the world's most valuable resource.

Every sector and function of the global economy is now dependent on data. Data may help you develop smarter marketing campaigns, inform your pricing, and gain a larger market share than your rivals by knowing your consumers on an increased level.

Although hoteliers are just now discovering the advantages of their guest data, it's becoming more apparent that this data has a lot of potential. to give a comprehensive picture of a hotel's visitors, delivering information necessary to improve guest satisfaction scores, make direct reservations, and ultimately profit.

Conclusion

Hotel technology is rapidly evolving. What was once a nice-to-have is now a necessity for most hotels. In order to keep up with the competition, hoteliers must be proactive in investigating and implementing the latest trends in hotel technology.

The trends mentioned above are just a few of the many that are sure to have an impact. Reach out to the Siemlus team to discuss your next project.