Things are starting to look up. Slowly but surely, we are starting to see a way out of this coronavirus pandemic, with a clearer picture of how the world will function. Eventually, the hospitality industry will recover—it is already learning how to. Out of all the realities that we are facing, one of the more important ones regarding the industry is this: it is essential to learn how to embrace technology.

As technology evolves, we have to evolve with it and learn to use it in a way that would best suit the industry. These days, guests are demanding more personalized experiences, and this is something that could have also been accelerated due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, while it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest technology trends to stay relevant, a company still has to stay true to itself and keep its human touch. After all, when it comes to customers, trust is of utmost importance.

 

In this article, we explore 7 forward-thinking technology trends in the hospitality industry and how they make the experience for guests more efficient and pleasant.

 

1.Contactless Payments 

In the last few years, contactless payments have proven to be crucial not just in the hospitality sector, but in a person’s daily life. Come to think about it, in a typical day, how many contactless payments do you make? Whether it be buying a cup of coffee to-go at your neighborhood café or making a purchase at an online shop, there is no denying that it affects practically everyone. In addition to helping improve the speed of transactions, it is a lot safer and convenient to pay from a distance these days. The more recent emergence of mobile wallets have only expanded this area, providing customers with even more options.

 

2.Virtual Reality Tours

With Virtual Reality, or VR for short, it is even easier for potential guests to experience the environment of a hotel from the comforts of their own homes. This can easily be done through their desktop, tablet, or smartphone. A quality 360 virtual tour could help them further understand the kind of accommodation that they can expect during their stay. Knowing what the hotel looks like and what services they provide can only contribute to their excitement over it.

 

3.Mobile Check-In

 

Similar to the way contactless payments work, mobile check-ins ensure a smooth transition for guests. Think about it from this perspective: if everyone was required to physically check in at a hotel’s lobby, the long lines could bring about a sense of fear in some individuals, even post-pandemic. While mobile check-ins require less human interaction, guests would certainly feel taken care of if done efficiently by a company, and in their unique, comforting tone of voice.

 

4.Chatbots

 

When you visit a company’s website for the first time, you might notice a readily available chatbot, which has become a standard in many websites. It has become a vital part of the marketing strategy of a modern hotel, providing customers with quick answers to frequently asked questions at any time of the day. This makes for a more comprehensive customer support experience. The existence of chatbots has proven to be even more important during the coronavirus pandemic, making it easier to answer things about questions about topics like policies and procedures.

 

5.Artificial Intelligence

 

The use of Artificial Intelligence makes for a highly effective marketing technique that results in a more personalized experience. It involves things such as collating and interpreting the data of guests, identifying user preferences for the creation of a tailor-made accommodation package, and making use of targeted and effective ads. The overall goal of using this strategy will be to provide guests with a more streamlined experience during their stay.

 

6.Voice Searches

 

Voice searches are not something new—with the rise of technologies such as Alexa and Siri, which you have probably heard of, this has only evolved in the past few years. Hotels can make use of this technology as well, as guests can ask questions or book certain reservations by simply speaking into their phones. In a world that is becoming more and more hands-free, many guests would certainly be delighted with this feature.

 

7.Cyber Security

Last but definitely not the least, it would be beneficial to invest in proper cyber security. If you have employees working from home—something that is an effect of the pandemic and ultimately define how we work post-pandemic—it is important to have the right cyber security protocols, as they could be using their own devices. Everyone deserves this type of security.