The Hotel Of The Future: Four Ways To Make It Happen

The hotel industry is evolving rapidly. To stay ahead, it's crucial to align technology with the core mission of hospitality: creating a welcoming environment with excellent service, all in scalable and sustainable ways. Here are four ways to shape the hotel of the future:

1. Clarify the Picture of Your Ideal Guest
   To create a sustainable plan for your hotel, you need a clear understanding of your ideal guest and their needs. This includes their preferences for entertainment, upgrades, service access (apps, QR codes, or face-to-face), language, and type of stay (business, vacation, etc.). Armed with this guest-centric data, you can map out a precise strategy and make more informed technology investments.
2. Link Your Tech Investment to Specific Goals
   Technology is essential in the hotel industry, but every investment should align with your strategic goals. Start by asking questions like:

• How has technology adapted to our needs over the past year?
• Are there areas where we're falling behind in meeting objectives?
• How do guests respond to booking processes, seating arrangements, and other customer journey touchpoints?
• Is the technology easy for staff to maintain?

Answering these questions will help you target where new tech investments are needed most.

3. Bring Brilliant Minds Together
   Encourage collaboration and participation between staff and leadership to improve the guest experience. This can be achieved by creating forums where employees can share ideas, challenges, and success stories. Asking questions like, "What are your daily challenges?" or "Do you have ideas for streamlining processes?" will ensure your team feels invested in the future of the hotel. Collaboration breeds innovation, improving both strategy and staff engagement.
4. Consider the Consequences of Inaction
   One way to plan for the future is by considering the cost of doing nothing. If certain areas of your hotel remain unchanged, what negative outcomes might arise? This can be a powerful motivator to implement improvements. Partnering with the right technology provider can help you embrace change, preventing stagnation and ensuring growth.

The Bottom Line
While the future is uncertain, focusing on core values like empathy, intelligence, and scalability will make your hotel’s future more tangible and achievable. By prioritizing guest needs and continually improving your strategy, you're not just waiting for the future — you're creating it every day.