Tech Talk

Recent posts

Definitely Doug 6/9/23: Hotels Fighting Trafficking: The Role of Technology
Posted: 06/09/2023

This week I want to address an important issue for the hospitality industry, albeit one that technologists have not historically had on their radar. They can potentially play a significant role in addressing the issue, which is human trafficking, and more specifically sex trafficking.

In my last column, I reviewed some key trends in autonomous mobile robotics for hotels, and dove into three categories of delivery robots in more detail – room delivery, food delivery, and heavy-lift robots. This week I will round out the topic with several other robot types and applications, as well as general guidance for evaluating, acquiring, and adopting mobile autonomous robotics. If you have not yet read part one, I recommend going back and doing so before continuing below, as some of the introductory material is important background to what follows.

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Best Practices for Hotel & Resort Operators in Pool Season 2023
Posted: 05/25/2023

With the arrival of warmer weather and summer fast approaching, hospitality operators are gearing up for another pool season. This year, technology is at the forefront of driving booking revenue and taking operational efficiency to the next level. Modern technology platforms (such as hospitality’s newest technology category – the Property Experience Management System or PXMS) are providing brand new capabilities that unlock new strategies and approaches to filling the pool with satisfied guests.

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The Growing Role Technology Plays in Hotels and Restaurants
Posted: 05/25/2023

In the past few years, hotels and restaurants have grown into hubs for entertainment, leisure, and human connection. In an effort to best serve their guests, operators have begun rethinking their technological investments and working to adapt to recent shifts in consumer preference and operations. To ensure that guests have the best on-site experience possible, brands are increasingly looking to new technologies to make their experiences more convenient and comfortable. Advanced property management systems (PMS) and point-of-sale (POS) systems can increase operational and staff efficiency, while also meeting changing customer expectations for a high-value but relatively low-touch experience.

This week I will return to a topic I have covered before, because it has, within the last 12 to 18 months, become one of the hottest-growth categories in hospitality technology. That topic is autonomous mobile robots – specifically, ones that can move around the facility as well as perform specific tasks. Many of these products were launched pre-Covid but were often seen at the time as more of a marketing gimmick than a legitimate operational solution.

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Another Look at the Study, "Creating the Coveted Hotel Guest Experience Perspectives from Consumers and Hoteliers"

03/28/2017

by Hospitality Upgrade

The numbers reported in a recent survey by Oracle Hospitality and Phocuswright are clear:

"64 percent of U.S. hotel guests said it is 'very or extremely important' for hotels to continue investing in technology to enhance the guest experience... 94 percent of business travelers and 80 percent of leisure travelers expressed interest in using smartphones to request service and message hotel staff."

Can technology improve guest engagement and experience? According to this study that surveyed U.S. and European travelers... yes... and guests expect it to do so.

So how important is technology to the guest... and the hotelier?

"Even in limited fashion, technology is a pivotal asset because it addresses the industry’s conflicting goals: operate efficiently at scale and simultaneously provide individualized service. By driving both, technology can foster greater guest loyalty and generate greater revenue."

For those who missed the full report in the February 9, 2017, edition of Hospitality Upgrade's Watercooler e-newsletter, the study describes how improved guest experience is the key to guests embracing and enjoying technologies that hotels and brands implement.

Key takeaways from the survey include:

Technology is a critical catalyst in creating a differentiated experience.
Guests are clamoring for greater control of the in-room experience.
The hotelier as orchestrator – it is a vital role that will pay dividends now and in the future.
Technology enables hotels, both chains and independents, to pursue the delivery of individualized guests experience as they see fit.

To view the report in its entirely, please click here.