The latest trends in the hospitality industry are in favor of tech-enabled experiences. 73% of travelers prefer to stay at hotels that offer self-service technology and minimal contact with staff or other guests. So it makes sense for hotels to invest in technology and optimize their services.
New businesses have a lot to learn from trendsetters who have been effectively using hotel tech to improve the guest experience. Here are the top 5 hotels and hotel conglomerates using technology the right way:
One of the global players always experimenting with hotel technology is Marriott International. The customer can browse through the Marriott Bonvoy app and book their stay at one of the Marriott hotels, use mobile check-in, mobile keys for rooms, poolside, fitness area, and parking lot, place contactless requests for room service, connect with hotel staff via texts, and track hotel shuttle in real-time.
During a discussion at the Economic Club, Washington DC, the CEO Anthony Capuano divulged the plan of expanding their digital tools to simplify guest experience automation. They want to add buttons to the Bonvoy app so guests staying at JW Marriott, St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, or other Marriott hotels can choose their rooms by themselves and tip the hotel staff using online payment methods. For Capuano, tech is an ‘enabler’. It increases the capacity of the hotel staff to engage with guests, and make their stay a seamless and memorable one.
Hilton uses tech to improve the guest experience and to promote responsible travel. They launched Confirmed Connecting Rooms back in 2021, available across their 18 hotel brands. This feature makes booking seamless for large families or groups of friends traveling together, who want to stay in connecting rooms. Previously, the booking process depended on requesting the staff and multiple follow-ups to ensure the availability of connecting rooms. This often led to frustration and an underwhelming customer experience. Now guests can easily book up to nine connecting rooms and get instant confirmation.
Other notable tech features include digital key share and automated complimentary room upgrades through the Hilton Honors App. With a digital key share, the primary guest can share their digital hotel key with up to four people. This initiative is a part of Hilton's plan to reduce its environmental footprint by 50% by the year 2030.
YOTEL is a hotel group with three global brands under its wing—YOTEL, YOTELAIR, and YOTELPAD. Their USP is offering thoughtful, futuristic, and most importantly, smart guest experience. The group believes in saving time and space using cutting-edge tech. Key features include self-check-in and check-out kiosks, contactless room upgrades, SmartKey, and high-speed wifi, to mention a few. The self-service stations within the hotel allow guests to be in full control during their stay, 24X7.
Besides these usual tech applications, Yotel has service robots to assist guests. Be it for storing luggage, or ordering in-room service, the robots take care of every need of the customers, and might even pose for selfies!
One of the most tech-rich hotels in the United Kingdom, Eccleston Square blends the rich architectural heritage of the 19th century and new-age technology.
Guests can control in-room amenities through their mobile phones, order services through iPad available in rooms, and use the available smartphones to make free calls. There are even TVs concealed in the bathroom mirror to take care of guests’ entertainment needs.
San Francisco’s Hotel Zetta is another example of a smart hotel. Guests staying here have access to Volara-powered Amazon Alexa. It allows the guests to control and customize their in-room services and place orders for food or other requirements through voice command. Zetta also has a host of amenities for tech and gaming enthusiasts. The hotel lobby features a virtual reality booth, where guests can have a memorable experience. With VR headsets and a Nintendo Switch console, Zetta brings the freshest technology to its rooms and keeps customers entertained.
Besides using hotel tech to enhance customer experience, Zetta seeks to bring futuristic tech right into its rooms and lobby. This is an innovative approach to attract tech-savvy guests who will enjoy every bit of their stay.
Looking for a way to offer a contactless customer experience and improve staff communication in your hotel? Make it possible with MyCONECT’s two-way integration to your hotel PMS. Get in touch with us for more details.