BUSINESS
TECHNOLOGY
HOTELS POST COVID-19 ADOPTING NEW TECHNOLOGIES
The reopening of hotels and other accommodations will require additional measures of safety to protect customers from the post-coronavirus stage. It is sensible to predict an increased demand for touch-free experiences, triggering the adoption of technology solutions.
Serge Chamelian, managing partner of h-hotelier, sheds light on some innovative technological solutions for hotels aimed at considerably reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission while ensuring customer satisfaction.
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HOSPITALITY NEWS ME | OCT-NOV 2020
Since COVID-19 made us all aware of the potential risks associated with physical touch points, contactless technology solutions are having their moment, providing customers with greater control. The shift to some of these technologies recently, such as digital check-in, digital room keys and inroom devices, but COVID-19 accelerated demand for these solutions, to eliminate any element of the experience that could create a risk for either customers or employees. Moreover, customer resiliency and changing expectations will force hotels to embrace new technologies and innovations. To reduce human contact at every stage, hotels are amending their policies and standards and investing in emerging technology solutions. Below is a list of
technology solutions that help meet the changing behaviors of customers: • Contactless check-in/check-out and keyless room entry: avoiding unnecessary gatherings and queues at the reception area, providing remote access control (through the opening of doors via an app), and complying with the rules on distance between people. • Virtual TV remote control: simplified management of room services (such as breakfast) through the ordering via an app or the interactive TV. • Integration of voice command: through the interaction with a voice assistant, customers can activate the room functions through voice commands. This voicetechnology enables hotels to address customers’ needs without the need to be face-to-face with them and facilitates the removal of all printed collateral and directories from the rooms. Another technology solution is the volumetric sensor that limits contact with certain devices
