Adopting technology solutions within the hospitality industry allows hotels to reach a broader audience and enhance the overall customer experience on multiple levels. Disruptive technological advancements have made collecting user feedback with accurate behavioral analytics while promoting hotel services easier. At the same time, it enables hotel managers and owners to connect with their staff and control internal processes straightforwardly and efficiently.

Through digital transformation, hoteliers can synchronize all operational tasks by employing out-of-the-box Hotel Management Systems (HMS).

Simply put, a hotel management system is an end-to-end digital solution that automates hotels and their operations. HMS are offered as packages that include all operations from the front desk to the back office, including hotel booking, billing and invoicing, marketing, sales, HR , data analytics, and more.

These solutions all assist in boosting the guest experience, streamlining workflows, reducing costs, and eliminating human error.

5 Disruptive Hotel Technology Trends

1. Personalized Guest Experience

A more personalized guest experience is made possible through mobile guest applications and responsive websites that offer guests numerous customized hotel options. These could include options such as baby cribs, specific drinks in the mini bar, extra pillows, and many more.

Big Data makes providing a personalized experience that much easier. Each time customers or potential customers log on via their social media accounts, hotel management is given access to certain personal information, including their likes and dislikes, how many children they have and where they spent their last vacation. This makes it possible to personalize hotel stays based on guest preferences.

Effective guest apps and websites are also able to collect, analyze and transfer user data to hotel management systems. Depending on budget and particular preference, hotels can choose standard solutions or develop custom software that best suits their individual needs.

2. Contactless Payments

In recent years, contactless payment methods throughout the hospitality industry have increased in popularity, as they not only embrace some of the most cutting-edge technology but also provide guests with a more user-friendly experience.

As the name suggests, contactless transactions allow users to avoid using cash or the physical implementation of credit cards. Instead, they rely on wireless methods such as Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

As there is no need to transmit user information to the point of sale (POS) terminal, contactless technology offers a more secure payment option. The data transmitted during a contactless payment is encrypted, making counterfeiting near impossible.

3. Mobile Applications

Guests and customers make use of mobile apps on a daily basis in order to make reservations, find deals, read reviews, and find places to spend their money. To be successful, the businesses vying for those customers must also use apps to their advantage.

The hospitality industry, in particular, is uniquely positioned to use apps to streamline operations, provide ongoing communication with customers, and act as a tool for maintaining relationships without relying on traditional correspondence methods.

4. Artificial Intelligence

Providing swift and effective customer service at an affordable rate is one of the hospitality industry's main challenges. Artificial Intelligence (AI) aims to alleviate this problem by addressing customers' concerns and inquiries at any time of the day or night. Chatbots and smart assistants have been widely adopted in the retail industry but are a relatively new phenomenon within the hospitality sector.

Amongst other things, AI technology lets guests control room functions such as cooling or heating the room, closing blinds, turning on music, etc., via voice commands. More advanced smart rooms are even capable of learning customer behavior via machine learning and the Internet of Things (IoT) data and automatically adjust the environment accordingly.

5. Virtual Reality

Although Virtual Reality (VR) is still primarily utilized in gaming and entertainment, it is becoming increasingly applicable to the hospitality industry.

A number of tourism- and hospitality-related firms have already adopted this technology in some form or another.

An example would be using VR to upgrade their current website content and encourage potential visitors or travelers to engage with the service provider. Several hospitality companies now realize that it is not sufficient to present generic information to be original in using the company website as a marketing tool.

Hoteliers can deliver helpful information by inviting their audience into immersive virtual experiences. For example, customers can experience a virtual walk-through of a hotel or visit their room before booking. In addition, VR tours allow visitors to explore nearby attractions and historical places in full color, shape, and sound.

Dive into ExploreTECH for more about the latest disruptive hospitality technologies

With a commitment to driving digital transformation throughout the MEA's hospitality and travel sector, ExploreTECH presents a user-friendly, bilingual digital marketplace that connects industry professionals and decision-makers with leading technology and solutions providers to learn more about the latest innovative solutions, develop advanced digital strategies and procure suitable technology to propel their businesses into the future.

Since its inception in February 2022, ExploreTECH has experienced rapid growth and significant success, securing its position as the leading digital marketplace where hospitality, travel, and technology meet to discover limitless opportunities of the digital age.

Disruptive Trends & the Future of Hospitality