The hotel sector is basing its recovery and competitiveness on finding the perfect balance between innovation, sustainability and digitization. In fact, the latter has been experiencing notable growth in recent years and driven by the Covid-19 crisis. In this article we review the latest trends towards digitization of hotels and why you should prepare your network infrastructure to be able to incorporate these new technologies. Keep reading!
What is the situation of the hotel sector regarding digitization?
The hotel business model, where it is increasingly difficult to stand out, surprise guests or offset cost increases, has seen in new digital technologies for hotels one of the main paths to success. Despite this, much remains to be done.
If we look at the latest 'Techyhotel Project' report from the Hotel Technological Institute, 72% of the hotels surveyed perceive their levels of technological implementation as high or very high, however this perception does not match reality, since only 35% of hotels have high or very high levels of implementation.
This data gives good faith that technology is advancing at a rate that many professionals in the sector are not capable of assuming or interpreting. This is corroborated by the latest CaixaBank Index of Sectorial Digitization (ICDS), where the tourism sector obtains 46 points out of 100, showing that there is still a significant gap at the level of digital transformation in hotels.
Where is the digitization in hotels in 2023?
If you are reading this article you are looking for strategies or technologies to improve processes, optimize costs or improve the experience of your guests. Various reference media in the sector talk about the following lines of action towards the digitization of the hotel in 2023:
1. Energy efficiency and sustainability
The digital transformation of tourism Its main objective will be to achieve a more sustainable development. The hotels will continue to be closely linked to the aid from European Next Generation funds, which support digitization projects with a focus on energy saving and sustainability.
In addition, hoteliers are going to have to respond to the concerns of the customer profiles most concerned about sustainability. We are talking about the Millennial Generation and, above all, guests belonging to Generation Z, who are beginning to gain purchasing power and are already an important customer profile for hotel businesses.
To satisfy these groups, it is not enough to put up posters or details that convey some small more ecological gestures. It is necessary to convey that sustainability and efficiency are part of the hotel's business model.
- Renewable energies and improvement of thermal insulation: Subsidies for the installation of solar panels, the substitution of equipment from polluting energy sources or the improvement of insulation will imply a boost towards energy efficiency.
- Sensorization: Increases the installation of sensors that help set minimum temperatures and when the room is empty, optimizing energy consumption.
- Automation: For example voice command temperature control systems.
- Network infrastructure upgrade to fiber optic GPON it will contribute to energy saving in an important and significant way and will avoid the generation of waste or cyber-garbage.
Keep learning: Keys to update the network infrastructure of your hotel
It should be borne in mind that the deployment of these technologies makes it easier to obtain GREEN BUILDING green certificates, such as LEED or EDGE.
Discover all the advantages of GPON fiber optics for hotels
2. Improvement of income and profitability in the business
The increases in energy costs and all those linked to suppliers of products and services have reduced the profit margin of hotels.
La digitization of tourism search improve direct sales, optimize processes and human resources, as well as personalize product and service communications to increase revenue per guest. Here we can highlight:
Digital solutions for automatic income generation
Take advantage of all the information obtained from the guests to carry out automated and personalized marketing campaigns that attack the exact needs of the guests, encouraging direct sales.
Solutions for automated direct bookings
Integrate all communication channels with the booking engine and centralize its management on a single platform. A good strategy to limit the dependence on OTAs.
Tools for data collection
Technologies focused on data collection such as captive portals or WiFi Hotspot, as well as the solutions for the generation of surveys help to detect patterns and profiles of clients in the hotel. In this way, management anticipates your needs with a more personalized offer. which helps improve income throughout your stay.
Digitization of services focused on reducing the purchasing process
The use of technologies such as applications or tablets in the rooms facilitate the process of purchasing products and services, increasing the average ticket of each guest.
Process efficiency and optimization
Hotels have to take another step towards improving efficiency to be more profitable. Technologies aimed at digitizing processes, such as cleaning management or room service, as well as reducing maintenance by the human team, will allow employees to focus on higher value activities aimed at improving the experience.
Keep learning: How to improve WiFi coverage and avoid incidents with this service in your hotel
3. Hyperconnectivity with the guest or hotel-guest communication
A better informed customer is more loyal and happy. Another of the great objectives of the digitization in hotels is to provide an omnichannel response in guest service: chatbots, virtual agents, IPTV and, interactive screens with corporate communication channels, automated marketing strategies...
All these technologies seek constant and accessible contact from the first point of interaction to the customer's exit.
It may interest you: Digital signage for hotels: uses and benefits
4. Maximum comfort in the guest experience
Going deeper into the solutions that help a more comfortable and fluid experience for the guest is going to be key in improving competitiveness. Contactless technology, facial recognition, voice control devices, the expansion of the offer of content available on television or having the latest technology in networks and Wi-Fi are going to be some of the lines of action at this point.
WiFi Chromecast for Cerium Hotels
It may interest you: Chromecast WiFi for hotels: advantages and how to install them
All these technologies focused on the guest experience make it essential to leave behind the conventional wiring networks and upgrade your hotel to GPON fiber optics. From a technical and functional point of view, fiber optic networks are much more efficient, since they integrate various technological services in a single network thread. In addition, they offer greater connectivity, range and bandwidth for the guest, managing to improve the user experience and improve the quality of services.
Another aspect that we cannot ignore is the guest safety. Hoteliers must study and rethink their cybersecurity strategies and measures and invest in digital technologies and solutions that offer greater guarantees to customers. Cybersecurity is key in the guest experience and throughout the entire relationship with them.
5. Immediate interaction or guest-hotel communication
Providing the guest with an agile contact with the hotel management is another important factor towards a most digital hotel. The solutions IPTV for hotels, the development of apps, or the use of hardware such as tablets in the room allow direct communication with the hotel to reserve services, notify incidents, consult information of interest.
These are the main trends in the digitization in hotels. Are you looking for a partner to help you integrate these technologies in your hotel? In Cerium We have a technical department that designs and executes the technological projects that your hotel needs, taking into account the needs that new guests demand and adapting to the needs and infrastructure of your hotel. Contact with us and tell us more about the digitization plan for your hotel.
