Only feels like two weeks ago when I was playing snake on my Nokia. Everywhere you look, there’s a buzz – a hodgepodge of innovation. Artificial intelligence, blockchain and the smart hotel have secured their seats on this century’s bus ride. Manifestations of the space age ain’t exclusive to the realm of film anymore. They’re among us, glued to our hands half the time. We’re smack, bang in the center of an era ubiquitous with sensory overload.
Every health guru and their uncle is preaching about tech detoxing these days. No surprise, given the amount of data suggesting we’ve evolved into a race of irritable halfwits. We can’t even bear the aggravation of waiting beyond a nanosecond for websites to load anymore. Despite all this, the benefits of our increasingly futuristic planet speak for themselves. Window shopping has transitioned into warp speed. So it’s only fair the real-life experience gallops at the same tempo.
So What’s The Deal With The Smart Hotel?
The notion of arriving at our hotel and enduring a lengthy 20-minute check-in process is verging on criminal. Not being able to check in when we please is also a joke, according to the disgruntled individuals loitering on Reddit and Quora.
Smart hotels are solving this problem, one mobile check-in at a time. They employ a concoction of advanced technologies and IoT devices. Such charming hospitality awaits anyone affluent enough to reside in these high-tech quarters. Automation and personalisation are becoming the bedrock principles of the modern hospitality experience. From robotic maids to cutting-edge kitchen sinks, this growing concept is edging closer to an episode of Black Mirror. Albeit, hopefully without the ghastly conclusions.
Smart hotels are serving up customer experiences that are both efficient and unusual. Comfort and convenience are the order of the epoch. This enhanced exposure to refined living is the epitome of tech-driven service, with much of the heavy lifting left to IoT technologies. Rudimentary bits and bobs are already in play at 70% of hotels, according to PWC. Well, when was the last time you used a traditional door key to get into your hotel room?
More Advantages Than The Latest iPhone
The smart hotel is quickly revolutionising modern hospitality by streamlining the experience. Smart rooms are uprooting guests from the archaic do-it-yourself mode and introducing the more prestigious touch-of-a-button model. Not a single footstep is wasted in the evolving hospitality landscape. Let’s have a quick dash through the key features of smart hotels…
Digital keys, mobile check-in & facial recognition
One of the biggest advantages of this is the huge reduction in front desk congestion. Surely receptionists aren’t the only ones who resent the sound of irate customers. Digital key technology means guests are able to check in themselves using their smartphones. Minimal human interaction is required; a gigantic leap forward in terms of a good night’s sleep.
Mobile check in also represents a positive shift in security measures. Tech-savvy solutions like this can easily be customised, and if necessary, deactivated remotely. According to oracle.com, almost 75% of travelers admit they would prefer tech that reduces their contact with other guests and check-in staff.
Facial recognition also allows guests to bypass the reception desk entirely. With their facial ID stored in the hotel app, guests would enjoy access to the facilities of the smart hotel without the need to call anyone for assistance. This slick feature eliminates the need for documentation, which is one less pdf to download.
Voice-activated room controls
Soon to be a staple in the more distinguished hotels, it’s easy to see why this novel idea would benefit guests. I mean, who doesn’t want to trip and fall before realising they need to bark ‘lights’? Hit me up in the comments if you can guess the reference.
By equipping rooms with smart speakers like Alexa, guests can voice their requirements from the hot tub if they wish. Room settings pertaining to lighting, temperature, and entertainment can be adjusted at the whim of the guest. Allowing them to natter with a speaker helps the hotel gravitate closer towards individual preferences.
In-room tablets & interactive displays
Think of this as the cousin of voice-activated room controls. Totally ideal if you’ve got a sore throat. In-room tablets offer everything that is customisable at your fingertips.
Not only are they able to adjust the room settings to the guest’s preference, but other features are a tap away. The interactive display gives users immediate access to room service, housekeeping, or entertainment and local information. These smart hotel features help to streamline their management and offer a more unique and responsive guest environment.
Service delivery via robot
Imagine C-3PO whirling around your room with a feather duster. Granted, duties of any cleaning staff are typically performed while you’re out. Still, it would make for a smashing Instagram story if you could catch it in the act. Handling tasks like concierge services and room deliveries, hotel staff are free to devote their time to the more complex assignments.
Smart lighting and thermostats
This shift in hotel utility management is testament to the hospitality industry’s devotion to a greener planet. The hotel sector is responsible for 1% of the world’s carbon emissions, according to an article on Plan Be Eco. While smart hotel lighting and thermostats lend themselves to a more satisfying guest experience, energy efficiency is a bonus.
IoT technology means settings can be learned and tailored according to guest preferences. Not too shabby when it comes to the hotel’s bottom line. It’s likely to provoke a few positive endorsements from guests who value sustainability.
Some Of The Slickest Smart Hotels I’ve Found
The magnitude of guest expectations is through the roof these days. Just ask travel agents – dealing with over-entitled customers is one of their pet peeves. But the smart hotel is scratching many of these itches. And the features in these 5 hotels are going down a treat.
Citizen M, Times Square NYC
Don’t fret if you’ve forgotten to bring your laptop. Citizen M has iMacs available for guest use. But that’s the tip of the iceberg. Guests can check in via the app and use the same app – or a tablet – to control amenities like the TV, lights and blinds.
This smart hotel chain has gone the extra mile with bathroom facilities too. The jungle-themed power shower is the perfect antidote for anyone who feels like smart rooms are too technical for their taste. By mimicking the essence of a rainforest environment, guests can feel completely revitalised.
In addition to the refreshingly original features of guest rooms, the hotel’s facilities boast their own allures. World class art is everywhere and Citizen M has a fine selection of books to tuck into. Well I for one think they’re smarter than average.
Hotel Puerta America, Madrid
In terms of architecture, this one can afford to blow its own trumpet. Aside from its rainbow-coloured exterior, it took 19 exceptional architects to design each of the unique floors. The rooms have been designed by award-winning architects and studios like David Chipperfield, Normal Foster and Zaha Hadid. This ensemble of Pritzker prize winners delivers an unparalleled smart hotel experience which stuns the senses.
Each floor of this building encompasses a unique style and employs a variety of materials to get the job done. Reminiscent of white caves and curvy design trends you’d expect in a Star Trek episode, nothing qualifies as ordinary here. Rooms are equipped with all the standards of a smart hotel. And for guests who’ve brought their Tesla, there’s an electric charging station in the basement.
25hours Hotel, Dubai
Here’s a brand that’s not only committed to being high-tech, but has an amazing way with words. Their 404 page is a masterpiece. Using a mix of analog and digital channels, 25hours’ think-tank marketing squad are always working on new ways to engage with guests.
The website alone will convince you 25hours is a brand that’s truly mastered the art of standing out. Quirky in their approach to things, some of the standard features in these rooms include rainfall showers, bluetooth speakers, analogue telephones and hammocks. But it doesn’t end there. How about private dance floors, in-room photo booths and secret staircases?
CityHub, Amsterdam
Part of a super duper – their words – interesting chain, this approach to hospitality is both chic and economical. Making the most of small spaces is something of a specialty here. With wizardry finesse, CityHub offers a techie twist on the old-school youth hostel. And with tons of communal space, they’re flipping the belief that technology is hindering social interaction. Their tiny ping pong table is guaranteed to bring people closer together!
CityHub uses an app which gives guests access to its on-property social network. This enables them to plan real-world activities with their new besties. Temperature, lighting and audio streaming can be customised in every “hub”, meaning guests are free to set their own vibe. The brand has followed in Disney’s footsteps too. They offer RFID wristbands, entitling guests to self-serve in the bar and restaurant. No worries about being shortchanged anymore.
Yotel Singapore Orchard Road Hotel
This chain was the first in the world to incorporate robots as part of its service model. So it’s no shock they won the Technology Excellence Awards 2019 for the “Robotics for Hospitality & Leisure” category.
The cabins at this smart hotel are noted for being futuristic and ergonomic. Their standout features include a Technowall, adjustable smart bed and mood lighting. But it’s the troop of service robots that turn the most heads. Not only do they make deliveries and perform room service tasks, but their smart screens are equipped with a friendly countenance. A digital wink from the future of hospitality right there.
Where Does The Smart Hotel Go From Here?
The common goal of all smart hotels is to take client satisfaction to levels never before seen. At the same time, hoteliers are trying to do their bit for our planet. Our technology is advancing rapidly and trends are becoming all the more obscure and creative.
So what’s around the corner? I watched a film called Atlas the other day with Jennifer Lopez. There was one scene where they were referring to the antiquity of smartphones, in the past tense.
In my humble opinion, I don’t think it’ll be long before we’re walking into hotels with smart frames on the walls that display our prized family photos. Optional integration with our social media profiles will give us an unprecedented level of personalisation. Our credit card info is dotted all over the net. By giving this same data to reputable smart hotels, C-3PO will be able to dash and buy our favourite snacks for our arrival. Perfect after those abysmal in-flight meals and jet lag starting to kick in!
