Hospitality trends: Influence of new technologies on Hospitality Industry

Nowadays, we live at the moment of technological revolution and constant advancement. This leads to rapid adoption of supply chain capabilities of companies, which result in reducing the negative impact on the planet, but also make for hugely compelling stories that tell consumers about the kind of brand these companies are. The technological revolution also plays a huge role in people’s consumer patterns, and therefore, in customer service. That is why it is essential for hotel management industry to stay ahead of the curve on the latest hospitality trends.

New technologies have an impact on every aspect of our lives. That is why professions related to programming, web and graphic design, digital marketing, 3D animation and so on, which can be studied in AIP Barcelona, are gaining extreme demand and importance in the modern world.

In this article we identified what it believes to be the Top 5 trends related to new technologies impacting the hospitality industry in the following years.

1. Satisfying Millennials

According to the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research, international journeys worldwide increased from 22 million in 1950 to 1.2 billion in 2016. Millennials (ages from 18 to 34) are expected to represent 50% of all travelers by 2025. This demographic group representatives travel a lot; are early adopters of technology; like personalized attention and are spontaneous. Therefore, hotels and restaurants will be striving to provide easy check-ins, fast service and gourmet dining experiences at affordable prices, so that in return, satisfied millennials actively promote their businesses on social media.

Moreover, the hotels are expected to introduce new technologies which will be giving them more opportunities of a quick respond and real-time damage control (for example, if a guest is not satisfied with the service provided and complains about it on different social media platforms). Millennial customers’ engagement and attention to their needs will be the key for driving future bookings.

2. Tech and social media explosion

Hotels will also become more involved in destination and self-promotion. Besides, augmented reality ads and room service virtual reality goggles will become a norm. It is predicted that it will become one of the main hospitality trends in the near future.

Due to the tech and social media explosion, apart from offering high quality tech equipment, it is predicted that in the near future hotels will also start to create applications that offer virtual reality to preview a property. It is expected that very soon everything will be based only on mobile check-ins and digital concierge services. In order to access rooms, hotels will be issuing high-tech cards that detect guests’ presence and unlock the door before they even reach it.

In addition to that, many travelers seem to prefer technology to human beings more and more. It is expected that soon they won’t mind if a robot delivers room service. Besides, the hotels will introduce event apps, RFID badges and push notifications that will make communications efficient, personalized and real-time. This will give hotel staff a chance to concentrate on more personalized service for their clients. For instance, hospitality jobs of the future will include the following titles: social media coordinator; creative lead; events and experiences agent; menu planner; audio-visual technician; yoga instructor, etc.

3. Focus on health and well-being

There will also be a huge increase in the emphasis on health and well-being. It is expected that apart from offering high-tech fitness centers, pools, spas, yoga spaces and in-room exercise equipment, the hotels will also be using technologies such as air purification, lightning that energizes, vitamin-infused shower water, etc. in order to satisfy increasing client’s needs of well-being.

4. Emphasis on sustainability

Regarding sustainability, eco-friendly practices will become a norm for every hotel. For most of the properties, sustainable sourcing will become essential. Therefore, following the supply chain back to the source and measuring the impact all the way along the line will become a critical part of measuring an event’s environmental footprint. Most of the hotels will be installing solar panels and updating systems so that air conditioners and light automatically switch off when guests leave their rooms in order to protect the environment.

5. Unique perks for brand differentiation

And lastly, hotels around the world will be more and more focusing on providing unique perks in order to differentiate themselves from the competitors. For example, it is expected that hotels will be offering holographic meetings, robot concierges, personalized underwater music systems and even digital mirrors with touch screen capabilities since the only method against brand destruction is to be creating truly authentic and meaningful value for the clients.