The Internet of Things (IoT) offers the hospitality industry several crucial benefits, from delivering a better customer experience to saving energy costs.
Hotel managers can now turn a simple room into a smart room by fitting everyday devices with internet connectivity. This allows multiple devices to be controlled from a single hub. For example, one can control a room’s lights, heating, air conditioning, and even curtains from a centralised location, such as a smartphone, smart speaker, smart hub, or tablet.
Guests can also connect their smartphones to entertainment devices in a smart hotel room, allowing them to be controlled through voice recognition. This way, guests can issue basic voice commands to turn the television on or off from anywhere in the room or change the channel.
However, hotels can go further with this concept, empowering users to issue more complex commands, such as playing personal music playlists through smart speakers or ordering pay-per-view films through voice control. Ultimately, this adds up to a more convenient experience, as devices can be used anywhere in the room.
Another key benefit of the IoT is connecting devices to hotel services. These may range from traditional guest services, like room service, to booking a massage session or an exercise class in the hotel gym.
More and more people are keen on reducing their carbon footprints, and many are willing to spend on eco-friendly brands. Therefore, the hospitality industry should focus on enhancing sustainability as opportunities to save money on energy costs mean opportunities to improve overall business results.
IoT technology can help with this through automated energy savings. For instance, a smart room that automatically detects the level of light in it can seamlessly reduce or increase the brightness of the bulbs, or the heating can be automatically adjusted based on room temperature to save money.
One of the most interesting and unique ways that hotel chains are transforming standard hotel rooms into smart ones is through interactive wall maps. Internet connectivity allows for the implementation of maps that can deliver real-time information, such as restaurant opening times and online reviews.
To enhance this concept, hotels could combine it with augmented reality technology. By downloading an app and pointing their smartphone at one of the wall maps, guests can see further information about local tourist sites and places of interest, enhancing the map’s core function.
One of the challenges linked to IoT is data collection and privacy. However, user data can be collected and utilised without intruding upon the privacy of individuals. For example, hotels can ensure the privacy of their guests by analysing their data on past entertainment choices; they can offer personalised default choices for in-room entertainment, such as recommending a TV channel or a streaming service based on the guest’s past viewing history. This allows them to make data-driven, evidence-based decisions about which radio station to set as the default option, potentially saving future guests time and effort.
The IoT also allows hotels to provide guests with personalised entertainment options. In this case, guests use their accounts with third-party online services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Spotify, and Apple Music.
IoT has further opened up new possibilities for electronic key cards through smartphones. This mobile app makes it easier for users to enter the premises and not worry about forgetting their keycard, so long as they don’t forget their smartphones. When the guest is ready to leave, the electronic key is deactivated at check-out. All data is stored in the cloud instead of on the card.
This creates a fast, secure, flexible, and future-proof access solution. When guests want to extend their stay, they can do so without re-encoding their key card because the system instantly knows the guest’s access rights.
IoT is already being deployed in the hospitality industry, and its future potential for hotel owners makes it essential to understand and capitalise on it. It can help automate processes, improve the customer experience, and help hospitality companies save money on energy costs and maintenance, among other areas.
The technology provides guests a more convenient, efficient, and personalised experience. It enables hotels to offer a higher level of service and improves the guest experience by providing real-time updates and easy access to services.
Also, by using IoT technology to collect and analyse guest data, hotels can offer more personalised default choices to satisfy the guest’s preferences. This can enhance guests’ experience and increase satisfaction, leading to higher repeat business and positive reviews.
