In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about the so-called “Smart Hotels”. It is the new trend that is slowly spreading all over the world and seems to impress guests who choose the latest technology hotels.
But why should someone invest in their hotel and turn it into a smart hotel? What are the positive elements that will convince a hotelier to make such a change?
What are Smart Hotels?
“Smart hotels” use devices connected to the Internet, which communicate or interact with each other, the so-called Internet of Things (IoT). Users in turn have the ability to control many devices from a single control point, such as a remote control, smart phone, tablet or smart speaker. The buildings are not burdened with heavy decoration and eccentric furniture, they maintain a simple and functional style, something that Apple pioneered in technological terms.
The technology that these hotels have benefits both hotel owners and guests. Along with the company’s profits, the customer experience also improves.
Advantages for Smart Hotel Owners and Guests
Sustainable Rooms (for Owners)
In smart hotels, there are great savings in the rooms, due to various automations that exist. A prime example is the lamps that adjust the intensity of the lighting depending on the natural light in the room as well as the automatic operation and deactivation of the lighting from day to night. Also, a possible addition of automation could concern the water. Stopping the flow when no movement is detected and continuing when movement is detected under the shower or faucet.
Think about how much energy savings the planet could make if all hotels integrated such technologies into their rooms.
Better personalization (for guests)
Personalization has become a very important part of our time. In Smart Hotels, some of the personalizations concern televisions that can be adjusted remotely and refer to guests by name, as well as guests being able to set the conditions in the room they want: room lighting, temperature, food and drink and generally organize the room as they like, at the moment they check in.
Easy access to information (for guests)
The ability to access information, with devices such as Amazon Alexa speakers, allows the guest to use their voice to ask a question and then receive an answer. For example, a guest can access information about the availability of a restaurant through the control center that is connected to the hotel’s restaurant reservation system, providing live data. This directly saves the guest time and gives them the ability to access immediate and real-time information for whatever activity they choose to do.
Data-Driven Decisions (for Owners)
One reason some guests are still hesitant to visit smart hotels is security. Hospitality Technology, in a recent survey, reports that 75% of Americans are concerned about how the technology used in hotels affects their privacy.
However, as long as hotels comply with data protection laws, they can only collect certain information received from guests. The only data that can be collected is basic usage data. For example, hotels can learn what the most popular TV channels or radio stations are, but they do not record voice commands or which guest they came from in their system.
Preventive Maintenance and Repairs (for Owners & Customers)
Both guests and hotel owners can benefit from the opportunity offered by preventive maintenance and repairs to systems and devices.
Hotel staff will be able to see performance information and operational data as well as identify problems quickly or even before they happen. In this way, much less money will be lost due to rooms that are not working. One possible scenario would be that the respective device could communicate directly with the control center for repairs and thus the maintainer would be informed by the device itself about the problem without the need for the connecting link – the human factor.
Thus, fewer guests will face disruptions, and they will be able to experience the promise that these hotels give – the ultimate technological experience.
Executives of the global hotel industry believe that the evolution of technology will greatly differentiate the travel experience and the accommodation. Big Data, AI and VR are considered the sparks for the change that will occur in the tourism industry.
They explain that the guest will be connected in real time to the city they are visiting and will be constantly informed about everything that is happening there. After all, most smart hotels are connected to open information platforms.
However, it seems that hotels will need to ensure that the quality of their network can be maintained without interruptions. Many guests state that slow Internet will ruin their experience at the hotel and will likely negatively influence them on the idea of smart hotels.
Many guests expect a smart hotel’s Internet to be powerful enough to stream video and support multiple devices per room, to support their entertainment preferences. It is worth noting that modern guest expectations indicate that creating a sense of connectivity will be worth the cost.
Marriott International, in partnership with Legrand and Samsung, has created an Internet of Things (IoT) hotel room to inspire the hotel experience of the future.
Interested in transforming your hotel into a smart one?
See how https://www.revfine.com/smart-hotel-ways-transform-hotel-into-smart-hotel/
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