Philadelphia, PA
- According to new UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) data, over 900 million people traveled globally in 2022, which is double the number recorded in 2021. Each global region has recorded a profound increase in tourist numbers.
The Middle East saw the highest increase in travel, with arrivals reaching 83% of pre-pandemic numbers. In Europe, there were 585 million arrivals in 2022, which is close to 80% of pre-COVID times. The Americas and Africa recovered approximately 65% of the visitor count before 2020. This has urged hotels to leverage new technology trends to enhance their guest experience and cater to tourist demands and expectations.
Tech Trends for Better Guest Experience
Hotels around the globe have stepped up their initiatives to meet the increasing expectations of tourists. They are embracing new strategies and technologies that are shaping the current hospitality industry.
The most prominent tech trends that can enhance a hotel’s guest experience include:
1. One-Click Taxi Booking Service
A significant challenge for leisure or business travelers is enjoying a relaxed ride. Every guest prefers hotels that offer ongoing service, which includes excellent transportation facilities.
Think about this scenario–a receptionist is busy checking the guest arrivals, attending phone calls for taking new reservations and providing the guest with the room key. They wouldn’t want to make a call to a cab company to get a taxi for their guests.
Here’s where an advanced cab booking device proves handy. Venue Butler has come up with a device that is getting used in Philadelphia and Chicago. With a simple click, a taxi arrives at the designated hotel.
The device helps the concierge check driver details, which include their name and arrival time, and update the guest about it. Recently, Windsor Suites in Philadelphia have been using this device. It enables the reception staff to book taxis without any hassle. It improves the guest experience by allowing the reception staff and concierge to concentrate on their priority tasks.
Other hotels that have adopted this technology trend are Waldorf Astoria in Chicago, Broadway Plaza in New York, and NOLA Marriott in New Orleans.
2. Fitness and Wellness Technology
The Ritz-Carlton in Washington D.C. and Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa in Austin are taking wellness services to a new level by offering guests a range of activities beyond the usual relaxation experience. At Miraval, guests can enjoy activities such as wellness counseling, horseback riding, barefoot walking meditations, Zen boot camp, and celestial yoga. The resort's working farm in Texas even allows guests to become chicken keepers.
Meanwhile, at the Ritz-Carlton, guests can book one of the 13 new Wellness Rooms, which focus on fitness, comfort, and relaxation. These rooms feature a wellness ball, yoga mats, bath salts for purifying the immune system, and a germ guard air purifier.
The Royal Beach Eilat in Israel provides the best therapists who offer 70 health, beauty, and body treatments. Guests can also experience Turkish Bath, Jacuzzi, sauna, and sprawling relaxation space. There are fitness rooms that are equipped with advanced workout technology.
According to Isrotel, an Israeli hotel chain, leading hotels are upgrading their fitness and wellness services for better guest relaxation. Hotel owners should invest in serene treatment rooms and professional staff to offer the best beauty treatments.
Additionally, they can also include an array of body massage techniques, with stress-releasing and balancing massages. There can also be special treatments for pregnant women. Reiki and shiatsu are other options to include in the package. Guests can choose from Isrotel’s selection of 5-stars hotels to experience the fitness and wellness services they like.
3. Facial Recognition
Guests no longer need to wait in long queues to make payments or check in at hotels. Today, many hotels are embracing facial recognition technology to offer exceptional guest experiences. Marriott International, for example, has introduced facial recognition for check-in service at two of its hotels: the Sanya Marriott Hotel Dadonghai Bay and the Hangzhou Marriott Hotel Qianjiang.
A check-in procedure typically takes around three minutes to complete, but it can take much longer at peak times. Using this technology, the process gets completed within a minute or less.
4. Robots
Hotels are gradually embracing robots and AI. Tourists at Radisson Blu Edwardian, Berkshire, can use Edward, their virtual assistant, all through their stay. It helps them with check-outs, check-ins, and almost anything that they require.
The Hilton in the United States has also adopted this trend. Using mobile apps, the guests can choose the room they prefer and order food in advance. They can use a digital key to unlock elevators and rooms. All these features are aimed at the guests and the hotel staff.
Conclusion
As the hotel industry keeps developing, adopting new technology trends and enhancing guest experience will be crucial to its success. By continuously innovating and staying ahead of trends, hotels can cater to the guest’s expectations and needs. It also enables them to stay competitive in an ever-changing market.
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