TLDR:

Chatbots, AR, BI tools, IoT, and biometric authentication are top five technology trends in hospitality. Adopting these technologies is crucial for hotels to meet guest expectations, improve efficiency, and stay competitive.

In an era of rapidly advancing technology, industries across the board are constantly exploring innovative ways to leverage tech solutions for growth and efficiency. The hospitality industry is no exception, and Youverse is proud to be part of the world's most relevant events that look at the impact of innovation and technology.

Last week, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC) and the Hotel Show Dubai shed light on the exciting developments taking place in this sector. Let's look at some of the key takeaways from these events and explore what the hospitality industry is doing with technology.

5 things technology allows hoteliers to do – HITECH and Hotel Show edition

Deliver 24/7 service with AI chatbots

AI chatbots have revolutionized customer service across industries. Using natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to understand customer inquiries and provide instant responses, these tools allow round-the-clock service without increased costs. They can handle basic customer queries, provide information about products or services, assist with reservations or bookings, and even troubleshoot common issues. AI chatbots ensure that customers receive prompt assistance regardless of the time of day, enhancing overall customer satisfaction and reducing the workload on human customer service representatives.

Create immersive experiences with AR

Another trend we saw at HITEC and Hotel Show Dubai was the use of augmented reality (AR) to enhance guest experiences. Hotels and other hospitality businesses can leverage AR to offer immersive experiences to their guests such as providing virtual tours of their rooms and amenities, allowing guests to visualize the space before booking. AR can also be used to overlay relevant information on real-world objects, such as interactive maps or restaurant menus, providing guests with premium experiences.

Streamline property management with BI

Business intelligence (BI) tools enable businesses to make data-driven decisions by collecting, analyzing, and presenting relevant information. Many hotels are investing in business intelligence tools for property management systems. These tools can help hotels collect and analyze data about everything from occupancy rates to guest preferences, allowing them to make more informed decisions about pricing, marketing, and staffing. This technology can be especially helpful for larger hotels or hotel chains with multiple properties, where there is a lot of data to manage.

Reduce environmental impact with IoT

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important issue for hotels, and technology can play a key role in helping hotels reduce their environmental impact. At HITEC and Hotel Show Dubai, we saw a number of new technologies designed to help hotels save energy and water, reduce waste, and promote sustainable practices. From smart thermostats to IoT-enabled sensors, these technologies can help hotels become more eco-friendly while also saving money on utility bills.

Contactless check-in with biometric authentication

Biometric authentication has emerged as a cutting-edge technology that further enhances the convenience and efficiency of the check-in process. By leveraging biometric face authentication, guests can complete the check-in process remotely, eliminating the need to wait in line at the front desk. Guests can simply use their faces to verify their identity and complete the check-in process, including signing necessary documents and making payments — all with their own smartphones

The use of biometric authentication in contactless check-in not only streamlines the process but also enhances guest experience by providing a seamless and personalized service. Guests no longer need to present physical identification documents or navigate through lengthy paperwork. Instead, they can enjoy a frictionless check-in experience that is quick, secure, and tailored to their individual needs.

Where to start?

The integration of advanced technologies has become crucial for the success of modern hoteliers. These technologies not only elevate guest experiences but also streamline operations, improve efficiency, and contribute to revenue generation efforts.

Hoteliers who fail to adopt these technologies risk falling behind the competition. Guests increasingly expect personalized, convenient, and sustainable experiences, and hotels that can deliver on these expectations will secure their position as industry leaders. Embracing these technologies not only meets guest demands but also drives operational efficiency, cost savings, and improved customer satisfaction.

Youverse developed a registration mechanism that allows hoteliers to seamlessly verify users' identity using a personal identity document, face verification between a live picture and the identity document, and anti-spoofing/liveness checks to detect a real user performing the registration.

YouID enables scanning documents in over 130 languages spanning almost 250 countries and territories and it's easy to deploy: with a plug and play mentality, it will take minutes to have it integrated into your application.

Book a 15-minute conversation with our experts — they'll be glad to help!