The unstoppable growth of the smart hospitality market
According to Rise Media, the global smart hospitality market is expected to reach 18.12 Billions by 2026 at a compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 25.5% during the forecast period.
World’s famous hospitality brands already jumped on the trend in the last few years, with Hilton announcing plans for proprietary ‘connected rooms’ and Marriott International partnering with Legrand and Samsung to develop its own IOT guest rooms. Luxury hotels like The Plaza New York and The Torch Doha in Qatar have also introduced high-tech smart rooms (Sommet Education, Top Trends in Hospitality for 2019).
Given the extraordinary pace at which the world of the IOT is growing, these stats come as no surprise. Intel projects the total number of smart objects to reach 200 billion by 2020, from around 2 billion in 2006. Which means that the likelihood of your guests having better technology at home (or even in their hands) than in your hotel increases exponentially year after year. This is certainly something to keep in mind in your next renovation plans!
Creating unforgettable experiences through hotel automation
Especially among the younger demographics, the so-called ‘experience economy’ is booming, with more and more travellers expecting something unique from their place of choice. Transforming your hotel stay in a personalised experience is a winning strategy to build customers’ loyalty, engage people and generate emotional attachment.
According to a survey by Gallup, engaged customers are a financial premium regardless of market segment. On average, about one in five guests is a fully engaged one, with significant variations depending on the segment: while for luxury hotels fully engaged guests are around one-third, the percentage drops to 12% when it comes to economy accommodations. Extra comforts like improved internet connectivity and better AV equipment are what most clients are willing to pay more for (Gallup, From Economy to Luxury, What Matters Most to Hotel Guests).
Hotel automation allows you to create everlasting memories of a superior stay from the moment the guests enter the lobby to the check-out and beyond.
Imagine entering a room to be welcomed by a personalised message, your favourite music and a warm atmosphere. Smart sensors detect your presence and evaluate weather conditions, adjusting lighting and temperature accordingly. The room’s touchscreen displays real-time information about scheduled events, the restaurant’s menu and spa facilities. Booking a massage or room service is available instantly and, for more complex requests, a video intercom call to the concierge is only one touch away. Any preference can be saved and actioned, creating an increasingly tailored environment. At the same time, guests have full control over all the settings for a truly personalised experience.
As Deloitte puts it in its 2019 Travel and Hospitality Outlook,
‘Enabling autonomy creates opportunity for guest decision making […] and decisions can be captured. Armed with visibility into guest preferences, action represents a hotel’s ability to leverage guest microdata in real time and in targeted ways across the travel life cycle—manifesting in events like repeat bookings, upgrades, and moments of convenience.’
Streamlined hotel operations and energy management
Among the benefits of hotel automation is the opportunity to simplify and enhance processes that are usually time-consuming and prone to create friction.
A primary example is integrated housekeeping. Smart sensors mean real-time status updates and instant notifications when the guests leave their rooms, so that the housekeeping staff can dynamically plan and streamline all the cleaning without idly waiting or bothering late sleepers by knocking on doors. Moreover, you can have personalised keypads throughout your hotel to allow your guests to request extra room cleanings with a simple touch.
Another important aspect is energy management. You can have climate control solutions that fully integrate with your existing BMS and HVAC systems. Dimmable lights allows you to create atmosphere and at the same time prolong the life of your light bulbs. Anytime guests leave the room, the energy-saving mode activates: blinds close, lights go off and the air conditioning settings are automatically adjusted.
How to get started with hotel automation
When it comes to manufacturers, there’s a whole lot of information to digest and brands to compare. If you also add the myriads of options available for things like lighting, speakers, keypads etc., planning your hotel automation project can turn in a very time-consuming task.
Since every hotel has different requirements and you want to make sure the new system won’t have compatibility issues with the hardware and devices you are currently using, talking with an expert will save time and clear any doubts you might have.
Reach out to our team to discuss your specific needs and get a personalized system to complement and enhance your hotel.
