At this time of the year, holidays become a pleasant reality for a great many people. The influx in hotels increases substantially, and in order to manage these volumes of people, a series of technological innovations can be adapted by hotels, which can greatly facilitate the stays of their guests. Artur Chapin, vice president of Expedia, has identified some technological trends that will surely come to characterise our hotel experiences over the next few years.
Chatbots and vocal assistants will become the new digital receptionists
They are already facilitating communication with travellers in the broadest sense (chatting, social channels, vocal assistants and much more), but chatbots are also starting to become more common within hotels. Indeed, according to Chapin, “the use of new tools and technologies in this sector will allow hoteliers to communicate with travellers more effectively, thus increasing the level of personalisation”. Specifically, we are talking about software that is integrated into chat and messaging software (for example, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Skype or even SMS services), and which will allow automatic and almost completely personalised replies to be delivered. This will be advantageous for both clients as well as hoteliers: indeed, hoteliers will have available more information regarding clients, while clients themselves will be able to spend less time looking for information, and will be able to make bookings more quickly. With regards to vocal assistants, the story is the same. Ovum, a research company specialising in digital marketing, has indicated in one of its studies that by 2021 there will be 7.5 billion digital vocal assistants all over the world, and we can imagine that these will also spread like wildfire within hotels. As Chapin notes, “today, this kind of technology doesn’t just provide information on the weather, on traffic and other content – it allows us to book a hotel, or to check the status of a flight”.
An app for everything: travel packages and hotel communication
Hotels are increasingly looking to arm themselves with apps that can bring together and manage all the services relating to a stay in their establishment. As Chaplin observes, for tourists, a trip cannot be defined as such unless you go home with a story to tell. This is why “for hoteliers, this represents a unique opportunity to address those travellers who – as well as wanting to visit a new destination – are interested in concerts, sporting events and shows.” An app that offers a guide of the city or information on what to do and see is a great commodity for clients of the hotel, who can thus receive a unique and complete service.
Two other aspects that are especially important to clients staying in hotels must be remembered: the first is the necessity of booking complete packages that include (for example) flight + hotel or car hire + hotel. The second is the possibility of being informed in real time about news regarding the weather, modifications to regulations regarding visits, and travel policies and security, thus providing complete assistance even in the case of booking alterations.
Take Tribe technology on holiday with you
As well as the technology that you will find in the hotel, you can leave home already armed with the right accessories for your trip and for enjoying your free time: with the Tribe catalogue, for example, you will be spoilt for choice!
Visit the site to purchase Tribe products
