Skip to content

 Sign Up for Our Newsletter

 For Hotel Tech Partners
 About
 EN
o
o
o
o
o

 Tips by Category
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
 Our Expert Panel
 Free Resources
 Events
 Expert Partners


The Latest Technology Trends in the

Hospitality Industry
Home/Hotel & Hospitality Tips/Technology Tips/The Latest Technology Trends in the
Hospitality Industry

Previous Next
  View Larger Image










It is critical to not only keep track of the latest technology trends in the  hospitality
industry, but to move with the times, because the industry is highly competitive and those
who do not adapt are left behind. Keeping your finger on the pulse is especially essential
within the context of COVID, because customer expectations and requirements are
continually shifting. In this article, you can learn more about the latest tech trends for
2022, which hospitality companies need to be aware of.

Quick menu:
 What is Hospitality Technology?
 Why is Hospitality Technology Essential for Companies Operating in the
Hospitality Industry?
 What Developments Are Responsible for the Latest Travel Tech Trends?
 Discover The Latest 12 Technology Trends in the Hospitality Industry
 The Latest Trends in Hospitality Marketing
 Find out The Latest Trends in Hospitality
 Learn More About Hospitality Tech During Courses
 Find a Hospitality Tech Jov With These Job Boards
What is Hospitality Technology?
Hospitality technology is the name used to describe a wide range of IT, e-commerce and
similar technology solutions within the hospitality industry. The use of this technology is
typically intended to either make life easier for a business’s employees, or to improve the
overall experience for hospitality customers.

This can be achieved in a number of different ways. For example, hospitality tech may
help to increase automation and ease the workload for staff. Likewise, it could be
intended to make processes faster, which could potentially save money as well as time.
Alternatively, it could help customers at numerous points along the customer journey.

Why is Hospitality Technology Essential for Companies

Operating in the Hospitality Industry?
The hospitality sector is extremely competitive and this makes it essential to keep up
with the very latest hospitality technology trends. Technology can help businesses to
streamline their processes, reduce costs, lower staff workloads, increase revenue
generation potential and improve the level of customer experience is delivered.

By using the latest technology, it may be possible to improve the accuracy of work to a
level that would be difficult for human staff to achieve on their own. Technology
solutions can also make work more manageable and may make it easier to live up to the
increasingly high expectations that today’s customers have.
Reasons to Stay Up to Date With the Latest Hospitality Technology Trends?

Perhaps the single biggest reason why it is crucial to keep up with the latest hospitality
technology trends is that many other businesses will. This means failing to keep up
could provide rival companies with a significant competitive advantage, especially if they
adopt technology that appeals to customers, while you continue as normal.

Clearly, as new trends emerge and as technology becomes widely used, the customers
within that industry are going to start to expect to see certain things. This makes
hospitality tech essential for living up to customer expectations. Meanwhile, you can
also gain a competitive edge over any rivals who have not adopted the new tech.

Adopting the latest trends also means you can make this progress a continuous feature.
If you fall behind current trends, upgrading technology, later on, may become more
difficult, because training requirements may be more extensive.
What Developments Are Responsible for the Latest
Travel Tech Trends?
A trend can be described as a generalised change, development, shift in behaviour, or a
prevailing tendency that can be observed within a particular field. A number of
developments have been responsible for changes in consumer behaviour and that has
subsequently led to the emergence of new hospitality tech trends.

Technological advances have played a significant role, especially with regards to the
widespread adoption of voice search, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and the
Internet of Things. Contactless payments have become more popular in retail settings,
while mobile check-ins have emerged in hotels, restaurants and airports. Many of these
technologies have grown because they help to reduce friction, and cut waiting times.

It is also important to note that the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated some
behaviours, especially with regards to hygiene. This has had a particularly strong impact
on contactless payment technology and mobile check-ins, along with cleaning
technology, such as cleaning robots, as these all minimise direct human-to-human
contact.

Discover The Latest Technology Trends in the

Hospitality Industry
Below, you find general technology trends in hospitality, along with tech trends that
serve as a solution to the coronavirus pandemic and associated shifts in consumer
behaviour.

1. Voice Search & Voice Control

Voice search is a growing technology trend within hospitality because a growing number
of guests or customers are turning to voice search in order to find hotels, restaurants
and cafes, so it is worth taking the time to properly capitalise on this. To do so, you will
need to make sure your website and booking engine are structured so that the voice
search can be used properly.

In some settings, demand for voice control is also growing. This could include
everything from the use of smart speakers in hotel rooms, allowing for control of the
various in-room devices, through to automated order taking in restaurants and cafes,
meaning customers will no longer need to wait for waiting staff to take their order.

Video: Voice Search Within Hospitality

 
Video: Examples Voice Control Within Hospitality

Take a look at the “How Can Voice Control Benefit the Hospitality Industry?” post for
further insights into this area of hospitality tech, including information on how voice
control works and why it is so beneficial.

2. Contactless Payments

Contactless payments offer a number of advantages for hotels, resorts, restaurants,

bars and cafes, which is why this has been among the main technology trends within the
hospitality industry in recent times. Aside from speeding up payments and improving
customer satisfaction, contactless tech is also easily compatible with loyalty
programmes.

Mobile contactless payments are possible even if customers do not have their wallets
with them, or even if their credit card has been misplaced. Additionally, with COVID firmly
in the minds of hotel guests and other hospitality customers, contactless payments can
also offer an excellent way to reduce human-to-human contact.

Video: How Does Contactless Payments Works?

Read the “Contactless Payments Are Becoming More Important Within Hospitality” post

for further details about the value of contactless payments and the benefits for
businesses and customers alike.

3. Robots in Hotels & Restaurants

One of the most exciting technology trends the hospitality industry is getting to grips
with is the rise of robotics and the use of robots to carry out tasks traditionally
performed by humans. For instance, robots can occupy a concierge role within hotels,
welcoming guests and providing them with important customer information.

Similarly, some hotels have started to use robots for cleaning purposes, such as vacuum
cleaning floors and even for germ killing. This is a practice that can be replicated across
the rest of the hospitality industry too, including in restaurants, and the use of robots can
also help to make an environment more COVIDsecure.

Video: Alibaba’s Robot Hotel is straight out of the future

Video: Robots Cooking – The Restaurant of the Future

 

Check out the article “Hotel Robots: An Overview of Different Robots Used in

Hotels” and “Examples of Robots Being Used in the Hospitality Industry” for much more
on the robots used in the hotel industry and for information on the advantages,
disadvantages and precisely how they can be deployed.

4. Chatbots

Chatbots have been an emerging hospitality technology trend for several years, but the
importance of this option is only growing, especially as customers now demand swift
answers to questions at all times of the day. Hotels and restaurants will also often
attract queries from people in different time zones, so having staff available is difficult.

A good chatbot will answer the most common questions without the need for any
human involvement. In more advanced cases, the chatbot can obtain information from
the customer and then pass the query on to a human staff member at the earliest
opportunity, while also providing them with access to what the customer has said.

Video: Example Chatbot for Restaurants

The “Reasons Why Every Hotel Needs a Hotel Chatbot” post covers the topic in more
detail. It is also worth noting that with the emergence of COVID, customers are likely to
have questions about the topic. Chatbots can be ideal for answering here, as these
questions will often require standard answers about procedures and policies.

5. Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is another of the major technology trends in the hospitality industry that
you need to be aware of. In particular, this can make the difference at the stage when
customers are ready to make a booking, because it will give potential customers a much
clearer sense of what they can expect when they visit for real.

During the COVID pandemic, those working in hospitality marketing have a particularly
good opportunity to capitalise on virtual reality technology and gain an edge on rivals,
because it provides customers with the ability to experience elements of a hotel or to
see the layout of a restaurant prior to booking.

Most modern virtual reality tour videos can be viewed within a web browser, making
them easily accessible. A greater level of immersion can also be achieved if users have
access to a VR headset.

Example: Example of  Cape Dara in Pattaya Virtual Tour

You can find out more about current VR tech trends by reading the articles, “6 Reasons
Why Every Hotel Should Have a Virtual Reality Video” and “How Virtual Reality (VR) can
Enrich the Hospitality Industry”.

6. Mobile Check-In

Mobile check-in hospitality tech is another important area to give consideration to,
because it can help to improve the customer experience at the point of their initial
arrival. This is especially beneficial, because first impressions can have a huge bearing
on how customers ultimately feel about their visit or stay.

Crucially, mobile check-ins swerve the need for face-to-face customer interactions,
meaning customers can potentially have greater flexibility in terms of when they check-
in. This ties in with wider contactless technology trends within the hospitality industry,
and can be especially welcome for those who are nervous about COVID.

Take a look at “Mobile Check-In App for Hotels: What Are the Benefits?” for further
details.

7. Recognition Technology

Recognition technology is one of the most important emerging tech trends in general,

but its potential uses in the hospitality industry are especially interesting. In particular,
biometrics is being used to usher in a new age of seamless authentications, and this
could benefit hotel processes and customer purchases.

For example, imagine if a fingerprint or facial recognition technology could be used in

your hotel to unlock rooms. Now consider the uses of the same technology for check-in
and check-out purposes. In the future, this technology is also likely to allow for
completely seamless purchases, with payments being authenticated by touch.

Example: Facial Recognition Check-in in Marriott China

Find more detailed information about how your business can benefit from facial
recognition in the article “4 Use Cases of Facial Recognition in The Hospitality Industry”.

8. Artificial Intelligence

In the modern age, customers expect to be able to interact with hospitality companies
across a variety of digital channels and receive rapid responses. Of course, actually
having staff monitoring all of those channels and delivering swift responses can be
difficult, if not impossible, which is where chatbots and artificial intelligence (AI) come
in.
Chatbots are able to understand simple questions and provide answers almost
instantaneously, taking the burden away from customer service staff and improving the
experience for customers. Meanwhile, AI’s uses extend into other important areas for
hotels too, including data analysis. In short: definitely, a tech trend to watch out for.

Example: Hilton and IBM pilot “Connie”

Find more detailed information and examples about artificial intelligence use cases in
the hospitality industry in the article “How to use Artificial Intelligence in the Hospitality
Industry”.

9. Internet of Things (IoT)

Another technological trend within hospitality management is the The ‘Internet of

Things’, or IoT, which involves extending internet connectivity to everyday objects,
devices and appliances. These devices can then collect data and communicate or
interact over the internet, turning previously unintelligent devices into ‘smart’ devices,
which are often semi or fully autonomous.

An example of this already being used with the hospitality sector is internet-enabled

thermostats, which are used to automatically adjust room temperatures at check-in and
check-out times, or in response to temperature swings caused by the sun, or by windows
being opened. The same concept is also being deployed for lighting, improving energy
efficiency by, for instance, reducing light intensity during daylight hours.

Example: The Internet of Things comes for the hotel network

Find more detailed information about the ‘Internet of Things’ in the hospitality industry in
the article “How the Internet of Things (IoT) can Benefit the Hospitality Industry”.

10. Augmented Reality

Finally, augmented reality has exploded as a tech trend in a similar way to VR

technology, but is even more accessible; typically requiring little more than access to a
smartphone and the internet. Unlike VR, which places users in a digital environment,
augmented reality is about enhancing the real-world environment through information
overlays.

Again, this offers limitless potential. Imagine if your hotel provided AR-compatible wall
maps, where customers can point their phone at the map and find out information about
specific locations. Alternatively, how about an app, which allows users to see customer
reviews of local restaurants by looking at the building through their phone?

Example: Augmented reality within the hospitality industry

Find more detailed information and examples about how augmented reality can benefit
your business in the article “How Augmented Reality is Transforming the Hospitality
Industry”.

11. Cybersecurity

Finally, the increased need for cybersecurity is among the most vital technology
trends in the hospitality industry. Today, hotels and restaurants are more reliant on data
than ever before, and make more use of IT systems than ever before too. However, this
potentially leaves them in a much more vulnerable position.

Some of the biggest threats here include ransomware attacks, phishing attacks,
distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and human error within the company. For
this reason, hotels need to invest adequately in cybersecurity awareness training, protect
their IT systems, keep customer data secure and ensure data is backed up and
recoverable.

12. Big Data

Data collection has grown rapidly across almost all industries, but can be used to great
effect by hospitality businesses to provide more personalised experiences. As an
example, it could be used by travel agents to make intelligent destination
recommendations, based on age, gender, budget, previous locations visited, and so on.

Within the hotel industry, big data allows businesses to identify trends, which can be

used for revenue management purposes. This allows for more data-driven approaches
to pricing strategies and enables business leaders to gain a clearer understanding of
current business performance and the outside influences that impact upon it.

Example: Big Data and predictive analysis

Find more detailed information about the big data in the hospitality industry in the
article “5 Ways Big Data Can Help Those in the Hospitality Industry”.

The Latest Trends in Hospitality Marketing

In addition to understanding the latest hospitality technology trends, it is vital to keep up
with the latest trends in hospitality marketing. Many of these trends are directly
influenced by emerging technology, with examples including the rise of AI chatbots,
while others are more general, like the growth of influencer marketing.

You can explore the topic of hospitality marketing further and learn about some of the
latest trends you need to familiarise yourself with by reading “Hospitality Marketing: 16
Must-Know Upcoming Trends”.

Discover The Latest Trends in Hospitality

Away from the topic of hospitality technology, there is a range of other hospitality trends
that you need to know about. These include the increased focus on hygiene and
cleanliness, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the increased
popularity of healthy and ethical food options.

If you are looking to learn more about these trends and the other major developments
within the hospitality industry, take a look at the “Hospitality Trends: The Latest Trends
in The Hospitality Industry” article.

Learn More About Hospitality Tech During Courses

A good way to learn about hospitality technology, while also acquiring knowledge about
other important aspects of the industry, is to study a hospitality course. Upon
graduation, you should be equipped with the information and skills necessary to
succeed in a career within the industry, or to advance your current career.

You can find out more about the importance of hospitality courses, while also having
access to a list of websites for identifying these courses by reading “Hospitality Course:
An Overview of Courses & Hospitality Educators”.

Find a Hospitality Tech Jobs With These Job Boards

Increased use of hospitality technology has moved many processes into the online
sphere and job searches are a good example. You can now find jobs in the industry
through a variety of channels, including industry job boards, recruitment agencies that
specialise in hospitality, social media platforms, or applying directly through company
websites.

To explore hospitality jobs further, access useful advice and view a list of some of the
best channels to use during your job search, read the “Hospitality Jobs: Overview of All
Channels to Find Your Next Job” article.
For those in the hospitality industry, keeping up with the latest technology trends is of
the utmost importance, not only to improve the customer experience, but also to
improve internal processes at the same time. By exploring the seven technology trends
detailed above, you can help to ensure that your business stays ahead of its rivals.

More Tips to Grow Your Business

Revfine.com is a knowledge platform for the hospitality & travel industry. Professionals
use our insights, strategies and actionable tips to get inspired, to optimise revenue,
innovate processes and improve customer experience. You can find all hotel &
hospitality tips in the categories Revenue Management, Marketing &
Distribution, Technology and Software.

RECEIVE 30 TIPS FOR OPTIMISING

REVENUE

Sign up for our newsletter and receive:

 10 Hotel marketing tips to attract more guest
 10 Revenue management tips to increase revenue
 10 Hotel Software & technology tips to streamline your processes
 The 2-weekly Revfine newsletter with practical tips to optimise
revenue

SUBSCRIBE
Yes, I would like to receive hospitality and travel industry tips from Revfine.com. By
submitting your details, you confirm that you agree to the storing and processing of your
data by Revfine.com as described in our Privacy Policy.

Related Posts
 

Hotel Robots: An Overview of Different Robots Used in Hotels

9 Emerging Restaurant
Technology Trends To Look For
In 2020
Technology has been used in the restaurant industry for long, but it has
become indispensable with changing times. The restaurants that have been
quick in adapting to technological advancements with changing times have
acquired and retained more customers. From systematic online delivery to
dining in a fully automated restaurant, technology innovations have set high
customer expectations. As the year 2020 is fast approaching, technology and
automation will continue to accelerate in the restaurant industry. Digitization
and improved restaurant tech services would set new standards in the F&B
industry on the whole. Restaurants will invest in technologies that provide
them with an edge to better adapt to the needs of the customers. 

Top Technological Trends In Restaurants For The

Year 2020
In the upcoming year, the restaurant industry is likely to witness trends that
would revolve around innovating food tech, providing a seamless experience
to the customers thus streamlining the entire workflow of operations. 

Let’s look at the upcoming Restaurant Technology Trends for the year 2020.

Voice Technology 
“Alexa, please add burger in my existing order.”

Virtual assistance is no longer a distant reality in the restaurant industry. 

Well known chains like KFC, Pizza Hut have enabled voice-activated ordering
to provide a seamless experience to their customers. In-app voice assistance
or integration with major virtual assistants like Alexa, or Google Assistant
provides easy navigation to customers for placing orders using voice
commands. Voice assistance is one of the most promising technological
trends and will influence the future of the restaurant industry. 

Tabletop Ordering System

Tabletop ordering systems provide diners with the ease of scrolling through
the entire menu digitally and give orders. There is no need for servers to
physically take orders from each table. Orders placed through digital menus
are directly transferred to the kitchens. Some systems are also integrated
with entertainment features to engage customers while their order is being
prepared and delivered at the tables. These systems decrease the table
turnaround time, serve more guests and ensure better service delivery.

Chatbots
Unlike traditional dine-in experiences, placing orders on digital platforms
lacks a personal touch. To provide a personalized experience to customers
while they place orders on online platforms, interactive chatbot assistants
could become popular in 2020. Large restaurant chains like Burger King and
Taco Bell have already introduced chatbots which are turning out to be an
effective tool for engaging the customers. They are programmed to carry out
tasks like answering FAQs, processing orders, sending targeted promotional
messages and directing customers to website or payment getaways. 

Chatbot technology is well integrated with social media platforms such as

Facebook, Whatsapp, inbuilt mobile app and website. Overall, chatbots will
continue to evolve as a wonderful marketing tool that would deliver more
value and enriching experience to customers.

Self-ordering Kiosks
Large Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) players like McDonalds are setting a
new trend with kiosk, which has been a less explored area of guest-facing
operations in the restaurant industry. Kiosks are small standing digital
systems that let the customers place orders themselves. They speed up the
service with a significant reduction in order taking time. Kiosks are versatile
systems that enable customers to customize their orders and pay for them
via their preferred mode of payment. Kiosks cut down the long waiting time
in queues even during peak hours and direct more customer traffic. This
results in an increase in sales. A full display of the entire menu in a single
click and the ease of convenience in placing orders also helps in upselling. 

These systems also provide real-time insights about customer preferences.

All the data is well synced with the POS terminals. Restaurateurs can easily
determine what is working well and further, brings improvements in overall
services.

Handheld Order Taking Devices  

With more restaurants understanding the importance of handheld devices for
order taking, the traditional pen and paper-based order taking will soon fade
away. Handheld devices such as tablets and mobile billing apps save a
significant amount of time with each order. The orders taken by the servers
directly reflect in the POS systems. As these hand-held systems are well
integrated with the overall restaurant management platform, servers can
also avail the entire order history of specific customers. 

Order taking on handheld devices decreases the table turnaround time

drastically.  In turn, restaurants are able to take more orders. This has two
major benefits. Firstly, servers do not need to manually relay KOTs to the
kitchen. Secondly, chefs can begin preparing the dish in question as soon as
the order is placed, improving both serving time and staff utilization.
Restaurant Owned Mobile App 
According to the 2019 National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI)
report, 44% of consumers said that they placed a food order using a
restaurant app or website during the past year. This explains the importance
of creating a mobile app that enables the customers to place orders as per
their convenience. Mobile apps not only increase the number of orders but
also increase brand awareness.

The many benefits of in-built Mobile Apps include better audience reach,
enhanced customer experience, targeted customer offers,  hassle-free order
management and improved return visits. 

Many restaurant chains that serve in-house liquor have made it easier for
customers to order drinks from their dine-in ordering apps. Mobile
technology is also beneficial for restaurant staff. It ensures transparency,
accuracy and ease while managing the operations. This is one top trend that
the restaurateurs would not want to miss in the year 2020. 

Kitchen Display Systems(KDS)

Kitchen Display Systems have gained popularity in the restaurant industry
for their immense contribution to maintaining consistency and efficiency. This
technology enables an effective flow of communication between the
restaurant’s Front of House staff and Kitchen Staff. All the dine-in and online
orders from the website/mobile app or third-party aggregators are directly
pushed into the restaurant management system. Modern-day POS terminals
are well integrated with Kitchen Display Systems. This powerful integration
ensures that consistency levels in food preparation and inventory remain
constant across the entire restaurant chain. With Kitchen Display Systems in
place,  restaurants can rest assured that service, speed and consistency are
never compromised. 
Marketing Automation 
Over the years, restaurant marketing has become more analytical and data-
driven. With better restaurant management software, targeting potential
customers will not only be intuitive but also supported with data.  A
restaurant CRM software that consolidates customer data from all platforms
can provide invaluable insights that can be utilized to develop customer-
centric loyalty programs. The restaurants will also be able to attract more
customers through targeted marketing campaigns using email, SMS, website,
and social media channels.

Robotic Chefs
While robots in the kitchens could someday automate the entire meal
preparation process, they are currently not being employed to replace human
chefs. Instead, robotic systems in restaurant kitchens will fasten order
management and enhance the overall performance of the restaurant. With
an effective combination of human skills and automation, restaurants can
effectively optimize order delivery time and speed up the entire chain of
events from order placement to food production to service delivery.
Automation in the kitchen would provide an impeccable customer as well as
employee experience and a competitive edge to pace well with growing
customer demands.

With automation setting in, the food industry will certainly become more
efficient. From accessing the entire status of your restaurant operations in a
single click to employing robots in its kitchen, technology solutions have the
potential to change the entire restaurant business for the better. The
evolving technological trends in restaurants will improve efficiencies and
expand the customer base without disrupting the core functionality of your
restaurant.  
What is Hospitality Technology?
Hospitality technology is the name used to describe a wide range of IT, e-commerce and
similar technology solutions within the hospitality industry. The use of this technology is
typically intended to either make life easier for a business’s employees, or to improve the
overall experience for hospitality customers.

This can be achieved in a number of different ways. For example, hospitality tech may
help to increase automation and ease the workload for staff. Likewise, it could be
intended to make processes faster, which could potentially save money as well as time.
Alternatively, it could help customers at numerous points along the customer journey.

Why is Hospitality Technology Essential for Companies

Operating in the Hospitality Industry?
The hospitality sector is extremely competitive and this makes it essential to keep up
with the very latest hospitality technology trends. Technology can help businesses to
streamline their processes, reduce costs, lower staff workloads, increase revenue
generation potential and improve the level of customer experience is delivered.

By using the latest technology, it may be possible to improve the accuracy of work to a
level that would be difficult for human staff to achieve on their own. Technology
solutions can also make work more manageable and may make it easier to live up to the
increasingly high expectations that today’s customers have.
Reasons to Stay Up to Date With the Latest Hospitality Technology Trends?

Perhaps the single biggest reason why it is crucial to keep up with the latest hospitality
technology trends is that many other businesses will. This means failing to keep up
could provide rival companies with a significant competitive advantage, especially if they
adopt technology that appeals to customers, while you continue as normal.

Clearly, as new trends emerge and as technology becomes widely used, the customers
within that industry are going to start to expect to see certain things. This makes
hospitality tech essential for living up to customer expectations. Meanwhile, you can
also gain a competitive edge over any rivals who have not adopted the new tech.
Adopting the latest trends also means you can make this progress a continuous feature.
If you fall behind current trends, upgrading technology, later on, may become more
difficult, because training requirements may be more extensive.

What Developments Are Responsible for the Latest Travel

Tech Trends?
A trend can be described as a generalised change, development, shift in behaviour, or a
prevailing tendency that can be observed within a particular field. A number of
developments have been responsible for changes in consumer behaviour and that has
subsequently led to the emergence of new hospitality tech trends.

Technological advances have played a significant role, especially with regards to the
widespread adoption of voice search, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and the
Internet of Things. Contactless payments have become more popular in retail settings,
while mobile check-ins have emerged in hotels, restaurants and airports. Many of these
technologies have grown because they help to reduce friction, and cut waiting times.

It is also important to note that the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated some
behaviours, especially with regards to hygiene. This has had a particularly strong impact
on contactless payment technology and mobile check-ins, along with cleaning
technology, such as cleaning robots, as these all minimise direct human-to-human
contact.

Discover The Latest Technology Trends in the Hospitality

Industry
Below, you find general technology trends in hospitality, along with tech trends that
serve as a solution to the coronavirus pandemic and associated shifts in consumer
behaviour.

1. Voice Search & Voice Control

Voice search is a growing technology trend within hospitality because a growing number
of guests or customers are turning to voice search in order to find hotels, restaurants
and cafes, so it is worth taking the time to properly capitalise on this. To do so, you will
need to make sure your website and booking engine are structured so that the voice
search can be used properly.

In some settings, demand for voice control is also growing. This could include
everything from the use of smart speakers in hotel rooms, allowing for control of the
various in-room devices, through to automated order taking in restaurants and cafes,
meaning customers will no longer need to wait for waiting staff to take their order.
Video: Voice Search Within Hospitality

Video: Examples Voice Control Within Hospitality

Take a look at the “How Can Voice Control Benefit the Hospitality Industry?” post for
further insights into this area of hospitality tech, including information on how voice
control works and why it is so beneficial.

2. Contactless Payments

Contactless payments offer a number of advantages for hotels, resorts, restaurants,

bars and cafes, which is why this has been among the main technology trends within the
hospitality industry in recent times. Aside from speeding up payments and improving
customer satisfaction, contactless tech is also easily compatible with loyalty
programmes.

Mobile contactless payments are possible even if customers do not have their wallets
with them, or even if their credit card has been misplaced. Additionally, with COVID firmly
in the minds of hotel guests and other hospitality customers, contactless payments can
also offer an excellent way to reduce human-to-human contact.

Video: How Does Contactless Payments Works?

Read the “Contactless Payments Are Becoming More Important Within Hospitality” post

for further details about the value of contactless payments and the benefits for
businesses and customers alike.

3. Robots in Hotels & Restaurants

One of the most exciting technology trends the hospitality industry is getting to grips
with is the rise of robotics and the use of robots to carry out tasks traditionally
performed by humans. For instance, robots can occupy a concierge role within hotels,
welcoming guests and providing them with important customer information.

Similarly, some hotels have started to use robots for cleaning purposes, such as vacuum
cleaning floors and even for germ killing. This is a practice that can be replicated across
the rest of the hospitality industry too, including in restaurants, and the use of robots can
also help to make an environment more COVIDsecure.

Video: Alibaba’s Robot Hotel is straight out of the future

 

Video: Robots Cooking – The Restaurant of the Future

Check out the article “Hotel Robots: An Overview of Different Robots Used in

Hotels” and “Examples of Robots Being Used in the Hospitality Industry” for much more
on the robots used in the hotel industry and for information on the advantages,
disadvantages and precisely how they can be deployed.

4. Chatbots

Chatbots have been an emerging hospitality technology trend for several years, but the
importance of this option is only growing, especially as customers now demand swift
answers to questions at all times of the day. Hotels and restaurants will also often
attract queries from people in different time zones, so having staff available is difficult.

A good chatbot will answer the most common questions without the need for any
human involvement. In more advanced cases, the chatbot can obtain information from
the customer and then pass the query on to a human staff member at the earliest
opportunity, while also providing them with access to what the customer has said.

Video: Example Chatbot for Restaurants

The “Reasons Why Every Hotel Needs a Hotel Chatbot” post covers the topic in more
detail. It is also worth noting that with the emergence of COVID, customers are likely to
have questions about the topic. Chatbots can be ideal for answering here, as these
questions will often require standard answers about procedures and policies.

5. Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is another of the major technology trends in the hospitality industry that
you need to be aware of. In particular, this can make the difference at the stage when
customers are ready to make a booking, because it will give potential customers a much
clearer sense of what they can expect when they visit for real.

During the COVID pandemic, those working in hospitality marketing have a particularly
good opportunity to capitalise on virtual reality technology and gain an edge on rivals,
because it provides customers with the ability to experience elements of a hotel or to
see the layout of a restaurant prior to booking.
Most modern virtual reality tour videos can be viewed within a web browser, making
them easily accessible. A greater level of immersion can also be achieved if users have
access to a VR headset.

Example: Example of Cape Dara in Pattaya Virtual Tour

You can find out more about current VR tech trends by reading the articles, “6 Reasons
Why Every Hotel Should Have a Virtual Reality Video” and “How Virtual Reality (VR) can
Enrich the Hospitality Industry”.

6. Mobile Check-In

Mobile check-in hospitality tech is another important area to give consideration to,
because it can help to improve the customer experience at the point of their initial
arrival. This is especially beneficial, because first impressions can have a huge bearing
on how customers ultimately feel about their visit or stay.

Crucially, mobile check-ins swerve the need for face-to-face customer interactions,
meaning customers can potentially have greater flexibility in terms of when they check-
in. This ties in with wider contactless technology trends within the hospitality industry,
and can be especially welcome for those who are nervous about COVID.

Take a look at “Mobile Check-In App for Hotels: What Are the Benefits?” for further
details.

7. Recognition Technology

Recognition technology is one of the most important emerging tech trends in general,

but its potential uses in the hospitality industry are especially interesting. In particular,
biometrics is being used to usher in a new age of seamless authentications, and this
could benefit hotel processes and customer purchases.

For example, imagine if a fingerprint or facial recognition technology could be used in

your hotel to unlock rooms. Now consider the uses of the same technology for check-in
and check-out purposes. In the future, this technology is also likely to allow for
completely seamless purchases, with payments being authenticated by touch.

Example: Facial Recognition Check-in in Marriott China

Find more detailed information about how your business can benefit from facial
recognition in the article “4 Use Cases of Facial Recognition in The Hospitality Industry”.

8. Artificial Intelligence
In the modern age, customers expect to be able to interact with hospitality companies
across a variety of digital channels and receive rapid responses. Of course, actually
having staff monitoring all of those channels and delivering swift responses can be
difficult, if not impossible, which is where chatbots and artificial intelligence (AI) come
in.

Chatbots are able to understand simple questions and provide answers almost
instantaneously, taking the burden away from customer service staff and improving the
experience for customers. Meanwhile, AI’s uses extend into other important areas for
hotels too, including data analysis. In short: definitely, a tech trend to watch out for.

Example: Hilton and IBM pilot “Connie”

Find more detailed information and examples about artificial intelligence use cases in
the hospitality industry in the article “How to use Artificial Intelligence in the Hospitality
Industry”.

9. Internet of Things (IoT)

Another technological trend within hospitality management is the The ‘Internet of

Things’, or IoT, which involves extending internet connectivity to everyday objects,
devices and appliances. These devices can then collect data and communicate or
interact over the internet, turning previously unintelligent devices into ‘smart’ devices,
which are often semi or fully autonomous.

An example of this already being used with the hospitality sector is internet-enabled

thermostats, which are used to automatically adjust room temperatures at check-in and
check-out times, or in response to temperature swings caused by the sun, or by windows
being opened. The same concept is also being deployed for lighting, improving energy
efficiency by, for instance, reducing light intensity during daylight hours.

Example: The Internet of Things comes for the hotel network

Find more detailed information about the ‘Internet of Things’ in the hospitality industry in
the article “How the Internet of Things (IoT) can Benefit the Hospitality Industry”.

10. Augmented Reality

Finally, augmented reality has exploded as a tech trend in a similar way to VR

technology, but is even more accessible; typically requiring little more than access to a
smartphone and the internet. Unlike VR, which places users in a digital environment,
augmented reality is about enhancing the real-world environment through information
overlays.

Again, this offers limitless potential. Imagine if your hotel provided AR-compatible wall
maps, where customers can point their phone at the map and find out information about
specific locations. Alternatively, how about an app, which allows users to see customer
reviews of local restaurants by looking at the building through their phone?

Example: Augmented reality within the hospitality industry

Find more detailed information and examples about how augmented reality can benefit
your business in the article “How Augmented Reality is Transforming the Hospitality
Industry”.

11. Cybersecurity

Finally, the increased need for cybersecurity is among the most vital technology
trends in the hospitality industry. Today, hotels and restaurants are more reliant on data
than ever before, and make more use of IT systems than ever before too. However, this
potentially leaves them in a much more vulnerable position.

Some of the biggest threats here include ransomware attacks, phishing attacks,
distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and human error within the company. For
this reason, hotels need to invest adequately in cybersecurity awareness training, protect
their IT systems, keep customer data secure and ensure data is backed up and
recoverable.

12. Big Data

Data collection has grown rapidly across almost all industries, but can be used to great
effect by hospitality businesses to provide more personalised experiences. As an
example, it could be used by travel agents to make intelligent destination
recommendations, based on age, gender, budget, previous locations visited, and so on.

Within the hotel industry, big data allows businesses to identify trends, which can be

used for revenue management purposes. This allows for more data-driven approaches
to pricing strategies and enables business leaders to gain a clearer understanding of
current business performance and the outside influences that impact upon it.

Example: Big Data and predictive analysis

 
Find more detailed information about the big data in the hospitality industry in the
article “5 Ways Big Data Can Help Those in the Hospitality Industry”.

The Latest Trends in Hospitality Marketing

In addition to understanding the latest hospitality technology trends, it is vital to keep up
with the latest trends in hospitality marketing. Many of these trends are directly
influenced by emerging technology, with examples including the rise of AI chatbots,
while others are more general, like the growth of influencer marketing.

You can explore the topic of hospitality marketing further and learn about some of the
latest trends you need to familiarise yourself with by reading “Hospitality Marketing: 16
Must-Know Upcoming Trends”.

Discover The Latest Trends in Hospitality

Away from the topic of hospitality technology, there is a range of other hospitality trends
that you need to know about. These include the increased focus on hygiene and
cleanliness, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the increased
popularity of healthy and ethical food options.

If you are looking to learn more about these trends and the other major developments
within the hospitality industry, take a look at the “Hospitality Trends: The Latest Trends
in The Hospitality Industry” article.

Learn More About Hospitality Tech During Courses

A good way to learn about hospitality technology, while also acquiring knowledge about
other important aspects of the industry, is to study a hospitality course. Upon
graduation, you should be equipped with the information and skills necessary to
succeed in a career within the industry, or to advance your current career.

You can find out more about the importance of hospitality courses, while also having
access to a list of websites for identifying these courses by reading “Hospitality Course:
An Overview of Courses & Hospitality Educators”.

Find a Hospitality Tech Jobs With These Job Boards

Increased use of hospitality technology has moved many processes into the online
sphere and job searches are a good example. You can now find jobs in the industry
through a variety of channels, including industry job boards, recruitment agencies that
specialise in hospitality, social media platforms, or applying directly through company
websites.
To explore hospitality jobs further, access useful advice and view a list of some of the
best channels to use during your job search, read the “Hospitality Jobs: Overview of All
Channels to Find Your Next Job” article.

For those in the hospitality industry, keeping up with the latest technology trends is of
the utmost importance, not only to improve the customer experience, but also to
improve internal processes at the same time. By exploring the seven technology trends
detailed above, you can help to ensure that your business stays ahead of its rivals.