The hotel industry is not known as an “early adopter” of cutting-edge technology. However, hospitality technology has been gaining speed lately, resulting in some futuristic hotel experiences. The latest surge of “smart hotels” has been fueled by AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), which is the digital connection of everyday items like room keys, TVs, fans, and even linens. While this creates an impressively smooth stay for guests, how does this technology help hotel staff behind the scenes?
Less Stressed Front Desk
Mobile check-ins are nothing new to the hotel industry. However, more hotels are going one step further and enabling guests to use their mobile devices in lieu of a physical room key. Eliminating routine check-in tasks like assigning room keys frees up time for desk agents. They can then focus their energies on creating personable experiences for guests and quickly addressing complaints or special requests.
Efficient Housekeeping
The earliest iteration of the IoT in the hotel industry involved simply attaching RFID tags to track linens and other housekeeping items. Since then, it has evolved to incorporate the geo-location of room keys, and even guests’ own devices, alerting housekeeping teams when a room is vacated and ready for service. With the latest AI developments, the IoT has even greater powers to assess the data it collects to identify trends and schedule housekeeping staff more efficiently.
Predictive Engineering
Plumbing, HVAC, and electrical grids can all be integrated into the IoT, giving engineering teams immediate information on outages and malfunctions before guests are even aware of problems. Furthermore, these systems can provide in-depth data on usage and performance allowing teams to conduct maintenance before these problems arise. This reduces the need to scramble to fix problems, creating efficient and predictable workflows.
Streamlined Events
Imagine an event room that could manage its own temperature, lighting, and audio functions. While we may be years from that level of total automation, the IoT makes it easier for smaller event teams to operate efficiently. Event managers can control more functions through a single device, reducing the need to physically run to different control areas for things like A/V systems, temperature and lighting adjustments, and client-facing services.
Better Hotel Team Management
With so many moving parts within a single hotel, coordination and collaboration can get messy. As more functions are incorporated into the IoT, hotel data analysts and AI can create a much smoother workflow. Managers can create more efficient schedules, reducing payroll costs and burnout in teams. Departments can coordinate more effectively, and redundancies in daily operations can be eliminated. With fewer headaches and grunt work, managers can spend more time coaching and leading their teams.
Recruit Forward-Thinking Hotel Leaders
As the hotel industry evolves, so too must leadership. Find hotel managers and project leaders who can thoughtfully and effectively implement the latest technology at your hotel. Contact our hotel recruiters to learn how.
