By Speleos Dravillas, Chief Revenue Officer at Nomadix, Inc
In fact, 76% of consumers expect a personalized experience, and 61% are willing to pay more for it. As a result, many hoteliers believe that offering a more personalized experience through digital engagement could help drive up to 6% higher compound annual revenue growth. Not to mention, AI and automation to support operations will become a top priority to help reduce costs and overcome personnel shortages.
It’s no surprise then that 86% of hoteliers plan to increase their technology investment in the coming year.
The good news is there’s no shortage of exciting new solutions that can deliver double the value: the seamless digital experience guests demand and the in-house efficiency gains operators need to reduce costs and increase profitability.
House Tech that Drives Efficiency and Savings
- Energy Management Systems. EMS solutions range from automated temperature controls in guest rooms and common areas, to occupancy sensors for lighting efficiency, and even automatic blinds that open and close to leverage sunlight appropriately for energy efficiency. These systems have been shown to substantially reduce energy consumption and costs, helping operators to save money and the environment.
- IoT for maintenance ease. Internet of Things solutions that connect hardware and equipment to the internet support remote monitoring for preventative maintenance, troubleshooting and proactive upgrades. This insight can prevent costly major repairs and downtime that can render guest rooms or facilities unusable, adding to revenue loss.
- RFID for inventory and asset management. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags allow hoteliers to track inventory of housekeeping supplies, linens, towels, vacuums, and even furniture. This can help optimize inventory by letting you know when it’s time to order more, preventing overstock and even deterring loss by warning guests that items are tagged for monitoring.
- Data analytics. By using analytics tools to collect and analyze guest behavior patterns, hoteliers can better understand how, when and where guests use amenities and the network. This can inform staffing, hours of availability, bandwidth provisioning, help detect and reduce dead zones, optimize energy and bandwidth signal throughout the property and even uncover insights into the popularity of amenities like the fitness center, spa and business center.
Guest Tech That Drives Loyalty and Satisfaction
- Mobile check-in and access controls. Giving guests the ability to check in/out on their mobile devices creates a fast, touchless experience that gets guests in and out the door and on their way with no hassle. Mobile device keys provide simple, secure access to exterior doors, guest rooms, amenities like fitness and pool facilities and even in-room safes. This not only streamlines the guest experience, but also provides tracking data to help hoteliers understand usage patterns to fine-tune guest offerings.
- Personalization options. Digital solutions that recognize guests by their mobile devices can help hotels deliver a customizable experience for every guest at scale. Guests can request certain amenities, like extra pillows or a spa appointment, in advance and can also set preferred room parameters like the temperature, lighting and draperies so the room is perfect when they walk in the door. Hotels can even configure personalized offers, including room upgrades, discounts on services or free dining and beverage vouchers, directly to guests when they book or when they arrive.
- Voice assistants. The popularity of in-home voice assistants means it’s only natural that guests would expect the same convenience when they travel. These designed-for-hospitality solutions put hands-free room control, service requests, guest information and even external data like weather and local attractions right at the bedside table. They can even be customized to promote property amenities and share promotions from local partners.
- BYOEntertainment. Between Netflix binging and gamer culture, guests expect to be able to pick up right where they left off when they’re not at home. Digital casting solutions let guests play their favorite shows from their own account directly on in-room TVs and seamless Wi-Fi authentication tools get their consoles connected quickly so they can get their game on in a snap. Connection convenience is so important for every device, so having solutions in place for automatic authentication can play a big role in guest satisfaction.
Is Your Network Up to the Task?
Having such a wide variety of options is exciting, but there’s one critical factor each of these solutions depends on: a robust Wi-Fi network. If your guests frequently complain about slow speeds, poor coverage or a lackluster signal during peak usage periods, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Your existing network could be holding you back from implementing these value-added solutions that drive loyalty, ROI and savings.
Investing in a modern Wi-Fi infrastructure provides a better guest experience through seamless, reliable connectivity and personalized experiences and improved operational efficiency through smart controls, sustainability and IoT integration. Not to mention, enhanced security through personalized access control, network segmentation and monitoring for unusual traffic provides both you and your guests peace of mind.
Even better, a state-of-the-art network can provide new revenue opportunities, like premium Wi-Fi plans that offer guests faster speed or more bandwidth, location-based marketing and promotions that drive upsell and cross-sell, and enhanced conference or event capabilities.
Besides, there’s no point deploying all this new, trendy tech unless your network can support it. Start by making stable, reliable Wi-Fi the foundation of your technology roadmap. It’s a smart investment that allows you to double your value by delivering an exceptional, personalized guest experience alongside more efficient, lower-cost operations.
To learn more about how a powerful network can help you deliver an outstanding guest experience and enhance profitability, visit the Nomadix team at booth 1509 during The Hospitality Show, October 28-30 in San Antonio.
