One of the biggest challenges in the hospitality industry is how to encourage patrons to go back into restaurants, hotels, and other vacation or tourist venues as remnants of the pandemic continue to fade. In considering this, certain trends jump to the forefront for the forthcoming year that all hospitality trades — from hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfast establishments to restaurants and entertainment venues — should consider.
Hospitality Industry Trends to Mark the Coming Year
While much of the hospitality industry has recovered from the setbacks caused by the pandemic, there are myriad new concerns and dynamics being brought to the forefront by a change in consumer behavior. Keep an eye on the following trends to keep your hospitality business on the cutting edge of the competition:
A Demand for Contactless Technologies
While over three-quarters of people polled in a recent survey had definitive travel plans on the table for this year, 41% of the traveling population wanted the ability to pay via contactless methods such as PayPal or Venmo. Additionally, 44% of people wanted automated notifications and alerts for trip-specific information and 41% wanted contactless check-in options. For many hotels and motels this can be easily handled through a competent Managed IT provider who can ensure that your place of business is equipped with the right infrastructure and applications. Mobile check-in not only allows for a contactless experience, but guests can check in to their rooms in under a minute, saving time and also reducing the burden on staff.
The Rise of Personalized Experiences
It almost seems counterintuitive to focus on personalized experiences when everyone is moving toward a more contactless system, but there are surprisingly many ways to stay in touch with guests on a personal level. Personalized welcome messages and signage in rooms are just a click away when you invest in a high-quality inkjet or laser printer — a relatively low-dollar investment that can give you great returns in the form of customer loyalty.
Additionally, higher tech tools such as document management (DM) and enterprise content management (ECM) systems can provide a customer service asset that helps add value to one-on-one interactions. A strong document and information management system can also help even smaller staff stay organized, thus providing guests with a more effortless and streamlined experience.
Using Virtual Reality to Encourage Interest
One great way to garner interest in your establishment and its offerings is to provide virtual tours of the features of your business. Three hundred and sixty degree views out your hotel windows, of the ambiance in your on-site restaurant or spa, and of your rooms or other offerings is a great way to help your business stand out from the rest. You can even use QR codes on specific landmarks at your business so that once on site, your guests can tune into any additional information by using their own smartphones. You can even offer information — and even ways to book — local tourist sites, restaurants, and special events to add even more value to your guests’ stay.
Other trends, such as becoming more sustainable through green practices and providing full, yet minimalistic experiences for travelers focused on essentialism, can round out your offerings and even help support your local community. In fact, more hospitality-based businesses are turning to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments to continue to attract travelers.
Blue Technologies Can Help Your Hospitality Business Adjust to the New Normal
As travelers and other hospitality consumers begin to demand new and different experiences from restaurants, hotels, and other venues, technology continues to be your most valuable investment and the smartest way to keep your company on the competitive edge.
At Blue Technologies, we have a team of IT professionals that understand exactly how to ensure you get the most for your technology investment — and where those investments will bring you the most impact for your budget. Our team can expertly assess your current IT infrastructure against your needs and business goals and develop a thorough and hard-hitting plan to take your hospitality organization to the next level. Our suite of tech tools — from hardware such as printers and other peripherals to document and content management solutions, and videoconferencing and other communications solutions can help put your business ahead of the competition.
Find out which tech tools can help you capture the attention of your target audience this year. Contact a Blue Technologies consultant and explore how our suite of IT solutions can benefit your hospitality business.