As hospitality technology evolves, it is critical for hotels to keep up to date with the latest trends to provide unmatched service and accommodations to their guests.

Customizing services is key to giving visitors the impression that hotels fully understand their wants and needs. Thanks to technology, hotels can easily and quickly adapt to the needs and preferences of their guests.

Hotel technology also enables businesses to concentrate on strategy instead of wasting time and money on monotonous daily operations.

Let's take a look at some of the Hospitality Technology trends that are set to define 2023.

Optimize for Voice Search

SEO is old news. By now, everyone is well aware that to thrive in the digital age, consumers need to be able to find you when they perform relevant keyword searches.

However, as speech AI assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Cortana gain popularity, more individuals are conducting their searches through voice commands.

Even though it may not appear immediately relevant, the important point is that voice searches fundamentally differ from text searches. When searching for a hotel on Google, one might type "best hotel Dubai." However, if you employ voice search, you may ask, "What is the best hotel in Dubai?"

It would help if you started optimizing for long-tail keywords and complete sentences so that visitors can find you when they search for you.

Include IoT technologies in Your Guest Rooms

As we have already pointed out, voice assistants are increasing in popularity, leading to consequences beyond mere voice searches. As more people utilize voice command functionality within their homes, they expect the same convenience within their hotel rooms.

Your rooms could be significantly enhanced by including IoT technologies like smart lights and smart thermostats. Bonus points if you integrate voice assistants that can communicate with these technologies.

Create Virtual Reality Tours of Your Hotel

Unique experiences and encounters make travel exciting. What better way to show potential customers what to expect than to give them a glimpse of your hospitality experience before they ever get there?

Even though Virtual Reality (VR) headsets are not yet widely used, virtual tours can also be viewed on YouTube and other video platforms, providing visitors with the most accurate impression of what they can expect during their stay.

By offering more information than your competitors, you can increase the likelihood that potential guests will book a stay at your hotel. Additionally, offering VR tours demonstrates that your property is familiar with emerging technologies, which will improve the experience they'll have once they arrive.

Allow Guests to Check in With Their Phones

Much like with contactless payments, using a mobile phone to check in and out has become more popular than ever, thanks partly to the global pandemic.

To put it briefly, mobile check-in software allows guests to access their rooms without waiting in line at the front desk. Since there is no need for human interaction, the entire process is quicker and more convenient than ever.

A study of smartphone and tablet owners between 18 and 65 by Smith MICRO Software found that 79% of respondents stated they would use mobile check-in and check-out if offered.

Create a Seamless Online Reservation Process

The hospitality industry was already undergoing a slow but steady digital change when Covid-19 struck. However, now more than ever, hotel guests expect a hassle-free online reservation process. This can be achieved by implementing an advanced Central Reservation System (CRS).

Additionally, a CRS can store essential customer data, including allergies, dietary restrictions, and loyalty information, allowing you to coordinate with your team before a customer even gets through the front door.

Streamline Employee Scheduling

It is just as important to update the back end of your hospitality business as it is to update the front end.

Too many hotels still utilize inefficient, error-prone legacy systems that take far longer than they need to. You can increase scheduling efficiency and improve employee satisfaction by switching to a modern employee scheduling system.

Upgrade to WiFi 6

Consider upgrading to WiFi 6, the newest wifi version, to avoid upsetting and frustrating guests with subpar wifi. In addition to being significantly faster than its predecessor, WiFi 6 offers more bandwidth, allowing for the seamless connection of more devices at once.

Although WiFi 6 isn't yet supported by most devices, it will become more relevant as time goes on and adoption rises, so investing now is a fantastic approach to protect the future of your hospitality business.

About ExploreTECH

ExploreTECH is the first digital marketplace dedicated to the Middle East and Africa’s Hospitality and Travel Industries, where professionals can discover, compare, and source solutions from a comprehensive database of technology solutions on a unified, impartial, and user-friendly platform, and providers can increase their reach, boost audience engagement and improve lead generation from within the region.

Hospitality Technology: Top Trends for 2023