Image courtesy of SALTO Systems
COVID-19 sees guests searching for alternative check-in options By Sarah Davison, Industry Reporter
Recent research from Skift and Oracle Hospitality shows that travellers expect a radically different experience than the one they had before the pandemic. Skift and Oracle Hospitality surveyed more than 600 hoteliers and 5000 consumers across the globe to better understand their expectations in hospitality for the next three years.
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No matter what accommodation style you offer, there is no avoiding guests checking in late. And with airports across Australia experiencing delayed flights, there is no better time to expand your offerings to allow guests to check in at their convenience and allow managers to clock off on time!
While the COVID-19 pandemic was undoubtedly a difficult time for the tourism industry, it did lead to an increase in contactless technology.
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AccomNews - Winter 2022
Likely because of social distancing protocols, the data found that travellers want less contact with hotel staff than pre-pandemic. 71 percent of guests want hotels to offer tech solutions that minimises contact with both staff and other guests. AccomNews asked industry supplier Tim Kneebone from SALTO Systems Hospitality Vertical Manager about ways to facilitate guest’s afterhours check-in needs.
It’s all in the cloud With cloud-based keyless access, accommodation providers can provide guests, suppliers, or visitors access to the property and their room with a PIN code, offering the ability to self-check-in. Before guests arrive at your hotel, they can choose to go straight to their room and receive their PIN code on their phone, or they can ask for assistance at the reception for their room check-in. Allowing guests to choose the type of service they prefer. The mobile self-check-in process, combined with keyless entry (through a keypad or digital key systems), allows guests to bypass the front desk entirely upon arrival, without compromising the level of service. Mr Kneebone said that 24/7 keyless access can help enhance the guest experience by providing greater flexibility. “Checking into your accommodation should
SAFETY & SECURITY
Tim Kneebone Hospitality Vertical Manager, SALTO Systems
always be a seamless positive experience for your guests during business hours or after hours,” Mr Kneebone said. “It saves your guests time and reduces ambiguity. By utilising a cloud-based access control system with mobile key and pin code technology, you can guarantee guests will be returning for future visits and telling all their friends what an exceptional check-in experience they had staying at your accommodation business.” Mr Kneebone said that guests wanted after-hours check-in to be as seamless as possible, and cloud-based technology can help smooth this process out. “Guests want after-hour check-in to be easy,” he said. “They are likely tired from a long journey, and they want to be able to access the front door and proceed directly to their room without a hiccup.
