Advances in technology allow hotels to provide services that are convenient and meaningful to guests. It’s easier than ever to deliver instant information or assistance using mobile apps, chatbots, or even physical robots. These technologies are catching on as more hotels try them out and find that guests like them.
1. Robots
Once a novelty, robots gliding through hotel hallways are now a standard part of the experience at some properties. Robots are bringing guests room service and linens, transporting luggage, and guiding guests to their rooms. They can even use attached monitors to communicate with guests in simple ways, such as asking guests to rate their stay. Hotels that have recently introduced robots include YOTEL Boston and Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel.
2. Check-in kiosks
Kiosks can cut down on lines and allow tired travelers to skip waiting at the front desk. Some hotels also use kiosks for storing luggage or selling items. And kiosks can integrate with mobile technology, allowing guests to pay or select rooms with their phones. One hotel that makes use of kiosks is YOTEL, which also stations a human team member nearby to help guests if needed.
3. Chatbots
Hotels continue to adopt chatbots to help guests with booking rooms and to provide concierge services. Chatbots can make restaurant reservations, answer questions about the hotel, and give directions. They can also promote rates and deals to website visitors, which might persuade some guests to book directly.
4. In-room tablets
Guests expect to customize some aspects of their hotel rooms, like lighting and temperature, and in-room tablets that are integrated with other amenities give them a tool to control those features in one central place. A tablet can also provide information faster than calling the front desk, and it can be used to promote room service or other hotel features.
5. Virtual reality
Guests want as much information as possible before booking a hotel room. They don’t just want to know about a hotel’s general selling points; they also care about the features of their particular room and what it will look like. And increasingly, hotels can provide them with a detailed, lifelike vision of each room with virtual reality technology. Hotels are using services like VDroom to create virtual reality models of their guest rooms, which are accessible from their websites. Guests are free to explore and experience a room in 3D before deciding where to stay.
6. Electric vehicle charging stations
More and more guests are traveling in electric cars, and hotels are installing charging stations to accommodate them. In particular, hotels that have a green mission want to provide facilities for sustainable transportation technology. Currently, Marriott offers more than 380 charging stations available for guests to use.