In this cut throat world of Hospitality, standing still isn’t a choice. Companies that are constantly on the look for trends are the clever ones as they adapt to the new normal. We join them to bring you the latest fix on Hospitality. Continue reading to stay ahead of the curve.
1. Personalization: Tailor services to the guests needs and preferences
Today’s guests are demanding and prefer to be treated as an individual. The age-old mentality of standardized service no longer holds true. Each guest is different and has different expectations when they check in to a hotel.
Hotel establishments must focus more on “target audience-specific communication”. This means analyzing guest data to come up with personalized offers and promotions.
2. Embrace Change: Work from anywhere (Workation and Staycations)
Back in 2019, Hospitality pundits had predicted a “booming international tourism”, but all came crashing down in 2020. To add salt to injury, travel restrictions imposed by several nations led to virtually no tourism.
Some hoteliers saw an opportunity in this crisis. And bingo, work from anywhere was a new trend in no time! A high-speed internet connection with a good view was all that was needed. This benefitted local establishments as most of their guests were from nearby cities. This trend is here to stay for a while and may even become the number one trend in the coming years.
For prospective bookers who are considering a change of scenery without having to compromise on work or take leave, this is the best fix!
3. Old threats are the new Frenemies
In the past, hoteliers viewed companies like Airbnb as a threat. But things are changing, to their benefit. Pressure from Airbnb has caused several hotels to change their game. Many hotels have started to offer creative and unique services that are distinct from traditional hotel experiences.
As Airbnb continues to expand into hotels, hotels are expected to continue to expand into home-sharing, which means more opportunities for profitability. Just imagine staying in affordable rentals that are owned and managed by a corporate entity rather than privately owned.
4. Smart hotels: Contactless technologies and Automation will rule the industry
Hospitality cannot ignore or understate the importance of technology. The IHG/Amadeus report rightly identifies a trend it calls ‘tech-augmented hospitality’. It says, “Hospitality providers will need to serve guests in a significantly more connected way, striking the right balance between automated solutions and human interaction.” The human element to all this is paramount – the report further explains that the majority (67%) of guests surveyed said they preferred engaging with a person.
Being a smart hotel not just means providing online check-in to the guest, but providing a smart solution for the complete guest journey. Examples of technology include automated payment, in-room virtual assistants, chatbots, keyless entry, robotic sanitation, customer profiling, tech-based F&B services such as an online butler, and much more.
5. Go-Green and Go-Sustainable: Travel Consciously
As humans, we can’t stop climbing into planes, boats, and vehicles that pollute the atmosphere, and sometimes we do more visible damage to the places we visit. A new trend that has gained some traction is ‘conscious travel’, which revolves around the idea of compassion and social consciousness being part of the travel experience.
For a hotelier, this means adapting to sustainable practices and taking a lead to get to the front of it. Avoiding disposable single-use plastics, eliminating unnecessary use of paper, use of bio-safe products in housekeeping, reducing food waste, and using energy-efficient electrical systems and smart bulbs are some of the few changes all hotels must consciously adopt.