Technology is moving in every direction, and its constant advancements cover almost all sectors. Even in the hospitality industry, it is crucial to move ahead with time and keep track of all the trending technologies; otherwise, you will be left behind. After the pandemic, the expectations and requirements of customers are constantly shifting that too on a fast speed.
Trends are continuously reshaping the hospitality industry. You must be aware of the latest tech trends for 2022 to stay ahead in this evolving industry. Moreover, the hospitality industry is highly competitive, and it is crucial to keep up and be updated on the latest technological trends to deliver the best to the customers.
What are some latest technology trends in the Hospitality industry?
Here is a list of a few of the technology trends in hospitality that serve as a solution to several shifts in consumer behavior. The current pandemic situation played a huge role in this shift. Let us have a look at some of the trends that are redefining the hospitality sector in 2022.
1. Voice search within the hospitality
One of the growing technology trends in the hospitality sector is voice search and voice control tech. Many guests and customers are opting for voice search to find hotels and restaurants of their choice. For voice search utilization, ensure your website and booking engine are adequately structured so the voice search can be used correctly.
The demand for voice control is also increasing in many of the settings. This includes anything from a speaker in a hotel room, for allowing control of various in-room devices, to automated orders taken in restaurants and cafes, where people will no longer need to wait for any staff to take their order.
2. Virtual Reality Tour
Another growing technology trend is the virtual reality (VR) tours of the places before the customer visits the actual location. Companies give a first-person digital tour to the customer, highlighting their main attractions. They showcase the main features of their hotel through visual immersion in order to provide the customer with a virtual tour of what they would be expecting after their arrival.
According to a study in Tourism Management, a VR tour gives the customer mental imagery and the presence of the place, which leads to a better brand experience. Many hotels are adopting this technique to attract tourists to visit their location.
3. Digital Concierge
According to a Stayntouch/NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality report, hoteliers offering chatbots to their websites are expected to rise to 29.2% before the end of 2022. Therefore, chatbots are shifting from luxury to necessity with fewer staff in the hotels. It is challenging to meet the demands of the customers 24/7.
Chatbots will help engage the users 24/7, answering their queries anywhere anytime, being their digital concierge. It will be easy for the hotels to fulfill the requests of the customers by bringing the concierge desk to the palm of the guests’ hands.
4. Going contactless
One of the most significant changes in the hospitality industry in recent times has been in the way we think about our hygiene. Pandemic and its protocols have made us double think about anything that is slightly unhygienic. The hospitality industry also tried to keep pace with this shift and make appropriate changes.
Many hospitality companies transitioned to a contactless check-in/check-out option to reduce staff dependency. The adoption of contactless technology, including digital payments and mobile keys, increased by 66% during the pandemic.
5. Artificial Intelligence
Customers expect to interact with hospitality companies through various digital channels in this digital era. They are also expecting to receive simultaneously rapid responses. Having actual staff monitoring all those channels and delivering swift responses to the customers can be a difficult task, if not impossible. This is why the sift is being made for chatbots and artificial intelligence (AI).
Chatbots can take the burden away from the customer service staff by comprehending the queries and responding to them instantaneously. This also improves the experience for the customers. Additionally, AI is also used in other vital areas for hotels, including data analysis.
Final Thoughts
Nowadays, technology is paramount in the hospitality industry. Customers are now used to contactless assistance, digital payments, and self-services. After a historic year, this industry cannot expect to return to normal.
The adoption of many technology trends by several hotels has also opened a new world for the customers. With VR tours and chatbots, customers are looking for efficient options while searching for places to visit.