How Technology is Changing Hospitality Standards

The hospitality industry is undergoing significant and rapid changes. Technological advances in the hospitality industry have reduced accommodation costs, making travel easier than ever. At the same time, technology has spawned many direct channels of communication that provide access to a wealth of information and allow consumers to share their experiences in real time. With everchanging and easily influnced guest preferences, hoteliers must strive to live up to their expectations.

Studies show that technonolicaly savvy potential guests care willing to change their destination of choice based on the opinions of their friends and family or the influence of social media. Hoteliers need to rethink their offers and the experiences of the customers they offer to stay fit and achieve their goals. This means traditional physical construction and service in hotels and their alignment with consumer expectations.

The most popular destinations from UAE in 2017 were:

• India
• Philippines
• Egypt
• U.K.
• Pakistan
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Thailand
• U.S.
• Oman

Combined, these factors have significantly altered the demographic characteristics and behaviors of travelers. Nowadays, consumers who travel with the greatest number of consumers reflect multiple trends as well as a wide range of income levels, lifestyles, needs and preferences. In order to stay ahead of the game and prepare for the evolution of hospitality, hotels must invest in data analysis and hyper-personalization, update and modernize existing properties and reinvent the hotel of tomorrow.

In hositalituy data is an integral part of learning about the evr-evolvng, diverse consumer base and catring to their needs. Despite the obvious success of many leading hotels in the Middle East, the sector has fallen behind in this area, with many obsolete systems still used by leading brands. A change in available technology will give customers more control over their environment in the room. Guests look for the following factors in each experience: hospitality, cultural immersion, well-being, organic properties, social interactions.

Future changes in the hospitality industry are undeniable. Howver, hoteliers also have significant opportunities to stand out by leveraging data, refreshing existing properties and taking a fresh view towards design. Those who are bold enough to push the boundaries of the traditional model will be able to stay one step ahead and pave the way for the inevitable evolution of the sector.

Source: Forbes Middle East