How Hotels Are Using Technology to Gain a Competitive Advantage?
One of the largest changes to hospitality in the last twenty years has been the use of technologies to enhance guest comfort and to create more convenient amenities. Hotels and other forms of lodging have long prided themselves on providing a comfortable place to stay. However, with an increasingly competitive market for accommodations, today’s hotel guests expect even greater levels of customer service, convenience, and amenities. Here are some of the ways hotels are using technology to gain a competitive advantage:
Navigation
When you book your room on the Internet, you can be assured that you are getting the most precise location for where you want to go. Today’s devices make it easier than ever to plan your trips and find the exact location that best suits your vacation needs. This includes everything from flight times and airport parking to transportation options and sightseeing recommendations.
Personalization
If you love the look and feel of a particular hotel but you’re not sure what bed to sleep in or which flat screen T.V. is the best picture, most hotels offer customized solutions to meet each customer’s unique needs. In addition to having their customers select which products they prefer for their rooms, many hotels offer them personalized service such as valet parking and a concierge to ensure that the guests experience each room with care and luxury. Some have even gone so far as to provide personal services like massaging and body hair removal.
Hotel Software
Some hotels are now embedding guest booking applications (HPIs) right into their walls. This saves a hotel manager tremendous amounts of time. Instead of having to print out stacks upon stacks of booking sheets, HPIs allow the hotel manager to simply open up the interface, take a seat, and browse through hundreds of selections by hand. Not only does this keep hotel bookkeeping costs down, but it also allows for greater customization.