Hotel Trends 2019 - Our Top 5

What hotel trends 2019 you should know!

New Year comes along with new trends, which means hoteliers and accommodation providers are finding themselves caught up in a busy period. It is important for boutique hotels or hotels in general to stay ahead of guest expectations, as this shows you are ahead in the ‘hotel game’ to provide the best experience for your guests.

We bring to you our top 5 hotel trends for 2019 to watch out and that should be on your radar:

1. Biometrics, really?

Biometrics technology makes it possible to recognize people which is not something you may not have heard of before, but it is starting to emerge in the hospitality industry. Biometrics makes authentications simple and seamless, which can benefit hotels and guests to an extent. Facial recognition, finger prints and more can become easier ways of identifying guests, and making their guest journey as easy as possible by optimizing this and speeding up the process. However, it is important to be careful with guest data security when using biometrics because the data being generated by guests is very privacy-sensitive.

2. It’s all about AI & Chatbots

Hotel technology is growing ever so fast today, as interaction is becoming crucial in the hotel and accommodation provider’s industry. Guests have expectations to interact with hospitality companies on a wide range of channels, and expecting them to be responsive online in a short time to their questions or any other reasons. Being actively responsive on channels can be challenging, which is why Chatbots & AI are starting to be introduced more in the boutique hotels or hotel industry in general! Chatbots can provide quick answers on simple requests that guests may have, which saves a lot of time for customer service staff whilst improving the journey for guests! Chatbots started of a as a trend this year, but is growing to be more popular in the hotel industry more than ever, and will carry on in 2019. Chatbots in 2018 concluded that 69% of consumers prefer talking with Chatbots to provide them with instant answers and information.

3. Cloud Tech

Cloud tech has been important for many years, and will continue to be in 2019. This is because cloud-based technology is real-time, and barely fails as it easily connects and integrates with a range of other hardware and software solutions – which makes it more than relevant for boutique hotels to use. More and more hotels are shifting in cloud technology as they are seeing an increase in productivity. Guests are starting to demand smarter hotels with mobile solutions, which is why simplicity and speed are relevant to date. Optimizing the journey by implementing cloud technology and solutions can lead to more available working hours for staff and improve guest journeys.

4. Personalized Services

Accommodation providers in the travel and hospitality industry are in need to adapt on the on-demand service that millennials expect. This can be difficult, but for large hotel chains rooms are booked in advance months because of their brand name and size. Booking engines have helped in this regard, since they provide guests with a variety of different available rooms and prices. There are a large amount of travelers who plan their trips in month’s advance, the transparent wall between booking a ticket and getting on a plane is decreasing. This portrays boutique hotels or any other accommodation providers need to be able to adapt to this short lead time. Check out one of our previous blog posts on our 4 Tips to Personalizing Guest Communication! 

5. Duty of Care

 

Employers are still finding it challenging to deal with the pressure to comply with the health and safety regulations, and ensuring employees in workforce are safe. It is crucial for employers, in this case boutique hotel owners, to know that employees can be located and evacuated quickly and safely, if necessary. It is important for them to keep an eye on budgets at the same time to ensure staff are being rewarded for their good performance. Many boutique hotel companies provide that long-term flexibility and security, filling the gap between the convenience and safety of a short-stay in a hotel and flexibility of a homely flat.

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The Hospitality industry is evolving, and the changes within the industry are being embraced by accommodation provider businesses and guests. Hotels seem to be in investing in providing better, more modern services for their guests. People are travelling more, which is benefiting the industry!