Top 16 Hotel Technology Trends in 2024

The hospitality sector is embracing technological advancements to meet the rising expectations of travelers. Post-pandemic, the influx of travelers has inspired hotels to shift from traditional methods to modern, tech-driven strategies.

This transformation is essential for cutting operational costs, enhancing service effectiveness, and fostering guest loyalty. Below, we outline key technology trends that hotels should implement to stay competitive and exceed guest expectations.

Latest Hotel Technology Trends in 2024

1. Immersive Technologies

Technology is vast in its branches and scope. One such branch is immersive technology. It blends the digital world with the real one. It is capable of blowing your mind and senses, alike. Different forms of immersive technology can enhance the guest experience. 

a. Virtual Reality

How amazing would it be if guests could digitally explore the whole property, from the comforts of their home? Virtual reality tours and 360° videos are easily viewed on the preferred screen. Moreover, they allow guests to experience a property before booking it. They know what to expect. It is a great hotel technology trends that would transform the way guests book hotels. 

b. Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality is another very useful hotel technology tool. It aims at elevating end-user experience through devices like smartphones and tablets. With augmented reality technology, hotels could offer in-house interactive components such as maps and points of interest. Furthermore, it allows hotels to provide guests with a digital history of the property along with relevant information about their surroundings. For example, if a guest is near any restaurant situated at the property, he/she would get a notification about the same with a menu. 

c. Metaverse

Metaverse is what one means when they say the word futuristic. Metaverse hotels are the potential future of the hospitality industry. It offers the ultimate guest experience. This is provided over and above virtual reality experience. With the latter, guests can take a tour and connect virtually with the hotel. With metaverse, this experience could be enhanced with an avatar. Guests can create an avatar and could take a virtual walkthrough before booking, have virtual celebrations, and much more. 

2. Voice Searches

With gadgets/ concepts like Alexa and Siri growing and catching attention, voice searches could be used to ease things for guests. Dedicated voice-activated applications could be used to book reservations. Moreover, they can be used to contact a hotel. With relatively detailed and quick answers, hands-free voice-driven applications are the way to go. 

3. Contactless check-in/out

This is another useful technology trend that hotels need to follow in the years ahead. A Statista report says that 27% of business travelers would prefer to use self-check-in and check-out kiosks if provided by hotels. Going paperless and contactless with the check-in smoothens the check-in process for the guests. And hence, gives a perfect start and end to their luxurious stay journey.

Furthermore, according to a World Economic Forum report, over 80% of global consumers say that they favor sustainable business and this affects where they spend their money. With paperless check-in, you are undertaking sustainable practices. 

4. Contactless Payments

Another, much-required technology trend for the hospitality industry is contactless payments. Using wireless technology to complete transactions saves time. In the wake of a pandemic, guests are often reluctant to touch or come in contact with keypads or staff. Contactless payments also solve this issue. Hence, contactless cards, mobile wallets, and UPI could be used to pay without hassle and contact. Additionally, digital cashless tipping applications allow guests to leave tips via credit cards or other digital payment methods and could be of great use in hotels. 

Furthermore, hotels could also collect payments pre-arrival, save some time, and effort at the front desk. Consider using eFront Desk to collect full or partial payment at the time of booking itself. 

5. Smart hotels

Guests are the most comfortable in their rooms. Hence, enhancing guest experience there matters the most. With in-room technologies, hotels transfer control to guests. They can set or fix the room temperature, and lighting according to their needs. Furthermore, guests can use voice control to tell their smart room to run a bath and order dinner from room service. Favorite shows/movies could be streamed through a remote or smartphone. Guests could thus, decide the ambience and emotion of their room according to their whims. 

Facial recognition applications could also be used to ensure security and privacy. Energy-efficient appliances/ gadgets could be installed to operate sustainably. Hotels could have digital card keys or go keyless through smartphones. All this could be done with the help of the Internet of Things (IoT).  

6. Chatbots

Chatbots are Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered. These AI conversational bots are smart, empathetic, and fast with their responses. From direct bookings to swiftly answering all guest questions all day and night, chatbots ensure live and smooth guest communication. Multilingual to cater to diversity, chatbots offer a comprehensive guest experience. Nowadays, they are also being deployed on social media and communication media platforms. Read detailed information on chatbots in hospitality industry.

With Freddie, you can maintain continuous communication with your guests. Its multilingual nature ensures that you are catering to guests from different parts of the country and world. 

7. Robots

Robots are a technology that is evolving in leaps and bounds. Already in use by some hotels to welcome guests upon arrival, and provide tourist information around the clock, their use is expanding far beyond. They are capable of so much more. They have the potential to assist with activities like room services and housekeeping. Moreover, living in post-pandemic times, robots are a great way to avoid contact and ensure social distancing. Some hotels utilize them for luggage transportation and security, among other services. 

Robots are the future of many industries, hospitality included. They can lessen human workload by just operating through artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

8. Automating services

Hotel Automation simplifies processes for guests. Allow guests to use their smartphones to book from their rooms or make prior reservations for your culinary offerings, leisure indulgences, or art/culture happenings. 

The Technology could be used to create and collect digital feedback and surveys. Pre-arrival surveys could help you to know your guests and customize services accordingly. During stay surveys could help you to understand their present needs. While post-stay feedback could help you to better your services. Check out Heda for such digital survey and feedback services. 

9. Wifi 6

Internet speed is of utmost importance in this digital world. The emerging Wifi 6 technology, a new iteration of Wifi, would help guests and staff, alike. It is about 30% faster than the existing Wifi. Hotels can leverage faster WiFi to power all those streaming smartphones, tablets, and voice-activated devices. With faster speed and more efficient connection, it could further enhance user experience.

10. Cybersecurity

Data privacy is important for every business. Cybersecurity tools are the most important for the hospitality sector. They are at high risk of running into cybersecurity problems. Ranging from loss of customer data to more malicious threats, hotels could be targeted in multiple ways. 

With employees working remotely or from home, additional security risk arises that need to be looked into. Using the right cybersecurity tools is therefore an indispensable practice for hotels. Data security is non-negotiable.  

11. Cloud-native tools with open APIs

Although the trend of replacing on-premises, legacy PMS (property management systems) with cloud-based applications is not new, the significance of open APIs has grown.

Hoteliers may find themselves with a confused and ineffective IT system because of the overflow of point solutions that are designed to address issues (such as point of sale or CRM). For instance, you could have to manually update room rates if your PMS and RMS (revenue management system) are not integrated, which would defeat the purpose of these technological solutions' efficiency improvements.

Although hoteliers must invest in cloud-based solutions with open APIs that enable seamless two-way connectivity with the PMS, these point solutions are essential for managing hotel operations. Data silos are avoided and an integrated ecosystem of apps with standardized and readily available insights is created through the free movement of data across solutions.

12. RMS for all

The increasing utilization of revenue management systems in hotels is a noteworthy outcome of the increasing integration of technology. Despite being around since the early 2000s, revenue management technology is now more widely available to hotels of all sizes, not just large chains.

13. Leveraging AI language models

Through LLMs (Large Language Models), which produce written exchanges that resemble humans, artificial intelligence is becoming more prevalent in the hotel industry.Draft responses to online reviews, chatbots on hotel websites, and personalized ad retargeting campaigns are all made possible by LLMs. These AI-powered chatbots assist in streamlining the reservation process in addition to automating answers to frequently asked questions.

Executives at hotels and airports predict that over the next five years, AI will have the biggest influence on areas like operational resilience, staff and resource management, and passenger processing.

14. Robotics and Automation: Efficiency and Guest Engagement

Robotics, hardly a novel concept in the hospitality sector, uses specially programmed machines to carry out necessary hotel tasks. Robotics adoption grew substantially throughout the pandemic.

The post-COVID travel sector is expected to accelerate, still, due to increased customer knowledge of interpersonal communication. The hospitality robots' market is projected to grow from its 2024 valuation of USD 472.51 million to USD 2316.94 million by 2031.

One of the newest technological developments in hotels and restaurants is the use of robots to help with check-ins, food delivery, room service, and concierge services. Robotics suggests automating repetitive processes, which can help hotels save labor expenses and increase operational efficiency.

15. Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

The analytics and advertising platform offered by Google has seen a substantial evolution with GA4. It moves the emphasis from website visits and sessions to what people do on your website and app, in contrast to its predecessor, Universal Analytics.

This new method analyzes visitor data and forecasts conversion probability by relying significantly more on machine learning. These data help hotel marketers better understand how user behavior affects conversions, pinpoint important clientele, and develop focused, successful Google AdWords ads and marketing plans.

For instance, you can raise bids for advertisements that target visitors who have seen a video on your hotel's website if data indicates that these visitors are more likely to make a reservation.

16. Big Data

With thousands of guests being served monthly, big data is the most viable smart hotel technology trends hotels can follow. It is a large collection of data collected by businesses from consumers. Thereafter, it is used to study customer behavior. Eventually, more informed and strategic business decisions are made based on the analysis. 

Hotels are evolving with time. With smart hotel technologies, guests would experience something unconventional and great. With less effort, hotels would be able to offer more and serve better. Technology in the hospitality industry has been transforming not only services but also emotions. Booking a room, and availing services is no longer a tedious task. Just a click and everything is sorted. Moreover, they are doing all of it responsibly. With data protection and sustainable practices, hotels make sure that you are safe and making woke choices. 

Final Thoughts

Technology and hospitality work hand in hand to provide visitors with the greatest possible experience. In an increasingly data-driven and modernized world, it is critical for businesses to stay competitive and adapt by keeping up with the latest developments in tourist technology.

Get in touch with Botshot if you'd like to learn more about RevMaxi, Predicto PMS, or other technological developments in the hotel industry.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1.) What are the key hotel technology trends for 2024?

A1.) Here are the few hotel technology trends in 2024 -

• Immersive technologies (AR, VR, Metaverse) 
• Voice searches 
• Contactless check-in and check-out 
• Contactless payments 
• Smart hotels 
• Chatbots 
• Robots 
• Automating services 
• Wi-Fi 6 
• Cybersecurity 
• Cloud-native tools with open APIs 
• RMS 
• AI language model 
• Robotics and automation 
• Google Analytics 4 
• Big data 

Q2.) How can virtual reality enhance the guest experience in hotels?

A2.) Virtual reality enhances the guest experience as it provides a virtual walkthrough of the property to guests before booking a stay. Thus, it increases the chances of bookings for hoteliers.

Q3.) What is the difference between augmented and virtual reality in the hotel industry?

A3.) Augmented reality means superimposing digital content over a real-life environment.

Virtual reality means immersing the user in a world different from the physical environment. The user has no relation with physical space. 

In the hospitality industry, AR enables guests to view the room layouts using their smartphone devices. They just need to point their smartphone camera towards a place or restaurant and get information about that. 

While VR takes the booking experience of guests to the next level. They can take virtual tours of the property before booking, go to virtual events, and visit local attractions near the hotel. Thus, they can get such an immersive experience in the comfort of their home.

Q4.) What role does the metaverse play in the future of hospitality?

A4.) Roles are mentioned below:

• Metaverse is altogether a different world that marks the line between the physical and real world. 
• Of course, it’ll not replace physical travel as visitors can get a sense of how the place would be and the experiences they get.  
• Metaverse allows hotels to enhance the guest experience by launching virtual events and tours and attending live concerts and avatars can interact with each other. 

Q5.) Why is contactless check-in/out becoming popular in hotels?

A5.) Contactless check-in and check-out solutions are gaining huge prominence in hotels because of the benefits they provide to hotels and guests- 

• It enhances the guest experience from pre-booking to post-stay. 
• Hotels can get access to guest preferences and use such data to personalize the guest’s experience.
• They can save their costs by automating routine yet automative hotel operations. 
• Guests no longer need to stand in queue as they can do the self-check-in.