Hotel Technology While Traveling

Today, new hotel technology is more than a nice-to-have amenity you can add to a few luxury suites. If you install the right kind, it can really be a tremendous competitive differentiation, which is all the more critical in this day and age when travelers already expect specific tech-related accommodations – and expect them to work well at all times. One of the most significant downsides of hotel tech up until this point has been that it doesn’t provide the same quality of service that people want.

How will you exceed those expectations and encourage the guests to return if you can’t meet expectations? The go-to solution not so long ago was to install something like free WiFi throughout the hotel. Still, the actual experience of using that WiFi signal was often sluggish, unstable, and a hassle to stay connected.

Essentially, hotels jumped the gun before making sure that guests enjoyed fast service, damaging many brands’ reputations for lackluster tech amenities. With that in mind, here’s how hotel technology can make (or break) your guests’ experiences, so you don’t repeat the same mistakes when innovative technology initially hits the market.

Why a great PTAC/AC unit is essential for your hotel stay

For starters, it’s best to start with the easy wins and install new PTAC/AC units and maybe voice-enabled, smart thermostats; however, the challenge will be how you integrate both of those products and control energy costs. You can invest in smart thermostats all you want, but you lose the energy efficiency benefits if you don’t pair it with a PTAC/AC unit and a smart energy management system of some kind.

Statistics from ENERGY STAR show that it costs roughly $2,200 / year to power one hotel room. Multiply that figure by the number of rooms, and it’s easy to see how energy costs can skyrocket as occupancy fluctuates. Indeed, a new PTAC/AC unit with automated features is a ripe low-hanging fruit to pluck because newer models consume less energy. Yet, in addition to a great PTAC/AC unit, it’s also a superb idea to install a new hospitality TV to improve service.

Why hospitality TVs improve the guest experience

In short, hospitality TVs improve the guest experience by providing them with comparable comforts that they would find in their own home. Sometimes, smart hospitality TVs are actually far better than guests anticipate, so there’s really no incentive to take the bargain-basement approach and only install outdated TVs.

Even worse, skimping on the quality of electronic devices makes it easier for guests to leave a bad review. After all, what’s the point of a voice-enabled high-definition TV if it’s hanging at an odd angle and guests need to shout into it to change the channel?

People are more forgiving when a residential smart tech doesn’t work well; it can be a running joke among family members. But in a hotel room, so-so tech like a smart TV that doesn’t act too smart is one reason guests will have a negative experience. And while you don’t necessarily have to go all-in with smart technology in every corner, it doesn’t hurt to add a few appliances to the mix as well.

Why appliances can help you feel more at home

Honestly, guests travel to get away from their daily routines and take a break and unwind without worrying about anything. Some of us can’t wait to get away from home and into a luxurious hotel room, but a segment of travelers book longer stays than usual. In that case, offering a few appliances in specific units can make them feel more at home.

No matter what, the idea is to make guests comfortable and enhance their stay. It’s important to note that not every hotel guest is on vacation. Some people traveling through the area only need a warm bed for the evening and maybe a complimentary breakfast before they hit the road in the morning. So, it’s best to use a light touch regarding appliances in the room.

Why a solid safe in your hotel is essential

Security is always top of mind for hotel managers. Whether magnetic key cards or an RFID key card, guests expect to be 100 percent secure when not in the room. A great hotel continually invests in security technology because we genuinely care about making people comfortable. If they can’t trust that their valuables are always secure, they will visit somewhere else or even leave in the middle of their stay.

That’s a reason why a small safe inside a hotel room is vital. It not only gives guests peace of mind knowing that their valuables are safe (no pun intended). While not every guest will even need to use a safe, it is certainly something to consider adding in 2022 if you haven’t already included them in your amenities.

What other hotel tech products can boost the experience?

We want to enjoy a more comfortable living space than we have in our own homes for many of us. A high-end hotel is a prime example because many of the top brands in the world mainly offer spacious, luxurious accommodations, especially if it’s a beach resort. But again, the issue of service quality comes into play because it’s not so easy to integrate a lot of different techs. It takes a systematic approach to determine which ones are ready for deployment and which need time to mature.

Without a doubt, you shouldn’t sleep on other smart devices because nowadays, many technologies are reasonably affordable compared to previous years. The technology is simply getting better, and the prices for the typical smart TV aren’t too high considering how many features come with them. Only a few years ago, hospitality TVs had limited features, and voice interaction is just one example.

Software-wise, some hotel brands have developed entire applications to make it easy (and preferable) to check-in and check-out of a room or order room service at any time. It enhances a guest’s experience and gives hotels vital data on how people interact with the tech. You might discover that your particular market mainly prefers a digital check-out on the way out but a personal touch at the start of their stay.

Ultimately, hotel technology can make or break a guest’s experience, but the good news is that you have no shortage of options. The challenge will be determining which ones are worth the investment if most guests won’t use them during their stay.