Keeping up with the Latest Hospitality Trends

The hotel sector has mostly recovered from the COVID-19 epidemic, but it now faces a market with new consumer demographics, attitudes, and challenges, as well as new dynamics between travelers and technology. In this article, we’ll look at important trends in the hotel industry for 2022, as well as how hotels may prepare for these trends so they can stay ahead of the pack while satisfying their visitors.

• In 2022, travelers will expect more contactless technology.

Travel companies have steadily been embracing contactless technology in recent years, driven primarily by its convenience and ability to personalize client experiences. By allowing guests to choose between a high-tech and a high-touch welcome and departure experience, contactless technology eliminates the apparent disconnect between high-tech and high-touch service. In addition to saving valuable time and resources for smaller hotel teams, contactless check-in enables staff to check-in guests with as few as 5 clicks and 30 seconds, from anywhere on a property. A recent survey found that 41% of respondents believed contactless technologies, such as self-service check-in and digital payment platforms, would increase traveler confidence in the upcoming year. These trends are expected to continue in 2022.

What hoteliers and hosts can do to prepare:

There have been several technological developments that have helped properties of all types and sizes to implement contactless features such as keyless entry, self-check-in, and mobile concierge. There are many of these services that can be provided by hotel apps, and if you have an integrated hotel management system (HMS), these apps can be integrated with your PMS so that things like contactless check-in are seamless. As a result, not only will you be providing a modern travel experience to global travelers and guests, but you will also have all the guest data in one place for easy management.

• Remote employees’ influence on the hospitality sector

Teleworking grew from being an optional ‘perk’ for a small number of employees during the pandemic to being a necessary health precaution in all but the most essential jobs. Due to the waning pandemic, more people are returning to work, though teleworking remains a viable option for white-collar workers. By 2025, Forbes estimates that 70% of the workforce will be working remotely at least five days each month, up from 25% in 2021.

What can hoteliers do?

While teleworking from ad hoc home offices can be convenient, there can also be definite pitfalls, such as being confined to the same space with little interaction, distracting children or pets, or lacking modern office equipment. Smart hotels can attract remote workers by leveraging a hotel management system that can book rooms hourly or on a day-by-day basis so that they can take advantage of the growing ‘space as a service’ business model. The hotels are able to provide remote workers who need a change of pace a quiet and productive space, and businesses with virtual offices access to meeting spaces on-demand. Hotels that integrate hourly reservations with their hotel management software can provide remote workers with a fully seamless experience that includes automatic buffers for housekeeping, targeted amenity and upgrade options, and detailed analytics.

• Use technology to compensate for a labor shortage.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, leisure and hospitality generated nearly 31 percent of the 531,000 jobs added to the U.S. market in October 2021, yet the labor shortage remains a huge problem for the industry. Historically, hospitality businesses have suffered from high turnover rates, and the pandemic has only made matters worse. Even though raising salaries has attracted some talent, it’s not a permanent solution. Furthermore, for properties that already have low resources, it isn’t even a viable alternative. As wage wars rage on, many people have left the industry for good after reflecting on their careers or finding other opportunities.

What hoteliers and hosts can do to prepare:

Hospitality cannot – and should not – be automated, but automation can replace manual processes. Automating tasks such as updating hotel inventory, managing rates in multiple OTAs, and more that previously were handled by staff can streamline operations. By doing so, you will enable your staff to focus on making guests happy rather than managing their time.

• Personalization will help Draw Revenge Tourists’

Consumers are more than eager to travel again after 18 months of social distancing and lockdowns. In mid-December 2021, Destination Analysts reported that 76% of US travelers were “ready to travel”, while SAP Concur reported that 96% of business travelers in 25 global markets are eager to travel again.

What hoteliers and hosts can do to prepare:

The solution lies in creating a hyper-personalized guest experience and seamlessly integrating it into the hotel experience. Personalized hotel room upgrades and amenities can already be seen in contactless check-in: Contactless check-in allows for hotels to send targeted, automated offers directly to a guest’s phone and enhance the stay and earn up to 240% ROI each quarter in the process. The lobby of a hotel that uses hourly bookings and guest-facing kiosks could be redesigned to reflect the aesthetics and functionality of the brand, adding anything from a restaurant or lounge to interactive art installations or monetized working areas. Hotel guests can already customize everything from thermostats to mood lighting to mobile entertainment on in-room tablets at tech-forward hotels. All of these data sources can be consolidated into one comprehensive guest profile, which can then be used by hotel staff and other technology platforms. Furthermore, it combines Artificial Intelligence (AI) from a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) to predict and optimize a guest’s spending patterns as well as a hotel’s future revenues.

• A stronger focus on the environment and sustainability

Travel trends are increasingly focused on sustainability, but recent pandemics and increased worry about natural disasters have kept this subject at the forefront of customers’ thoughts. According to a Booking.com survey, 83 percent of global visitors believe that sustainable travel is critical, with 61 percent indicating that the pandemic has inspired them to travel more responsibly.  One of the most recent trends in the travel business is that guests are considering taking fewer trips but staying longer. This reduces the frequency of plane travel. Personal wellbeing and environmental well-being will almost certainly become more important in the coming years.

What hoteliers and hosts can do?

A little modification can benefit not only the environment but also your bank account. A hotel, for example, spends around 6% of its operational costs on utilities, with lighting accounting for 35%. Switching to energy-efficient light bulbs can also save money. It not only contributes to sustainability but also makes things more economical and convenient for you. Furthermore, using occupancy sensors to switch off lights and deploying smart thermostats may be utilized to conserve energy. Sheet and towel reuse programs, as well as low-flow showerheads and toilet flushes, are excellent ways to save and preserve water.

While the past few years have been turbulent for the hospitality and lodging industry, many exciting trends on the horizon are changing the way business is done. Hoteliers and hosts have the opportunity to implement new technologies to automate the way they do business to save on their bottom line and deliver remarkable customer experiences that keep their guests coming back. With travel on the rise, establishing strong connections with guests is key. Being aware of and preparing for upcoming trends is critical in having a successful 2022.

Content Originally Posted on  https://soft2share.com/