Today, as the tourism industry has almost become the main industry of the country, there are now more varieties within the hotel category such as budget hotels, hostels, condotels, serviced apartments, and boutique Hotels. Nevertheless, in the future, finding a good location, having many amenities for guests, training staff to be service-oriented, and even decorating the hotel to be unique and different from competitors might not be enough.
The shifted trends in hotel technology shows that many hotels are now transforming into digital hotels. Hotels abroad are adopting new technologies, while these changes can rarely be seen in Thailand. Today, we will talk about 6 cutting-edge technologies that hotels in Thailand should adopt.
1. Internet of Things (IoT): Control all services through just a mobile phone.
The Internet of Things (IoT) technology allows devices to communicate with each other, making devices smarter and providing automation without human intervention. Some devices in hotels that can benefit from IoT include doors, TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, and phones. It might seem far-fetched for hotels, but it's inevitable. For example, when guests finish checking in, as soon as they walk into their rooms, the door will immediately recognize that the guest is staying in that room, and various devices will start working together, such as turning on the air conditioning and displaying a welcome message on the TV.
2. Mobile Check-In and Keyless Entry: This groundbreaking system is expected to revolutionize the hotel industry, as the first to utilize the hotel's mobile application for guest check-in, streamlining the process and minimizing the need to contact reception staff for room keys. With this system, guests will receive notifications through the hotel's app when it's time to check in, and whether their room is ready for occupancy. If the room is ready, guests can use the mobile check-In function to check in via their mobile phones and receive a key code for entry. When guests arrive at the hotel, they can go to their rooms and use the code to scan at the door to enter immediately.
3. Virtual Reality (VR): This involves using virtual reality technology to visit hotel premises. Before guests book a room, they can virtually tour the hotel in 360 degrees through VR systems on desktops and applications to feel like they are actually in the place, whether viewing the room or the surrounding area. This technology has already been adopted by the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel, and many other hotels are starting to develop and use VR on their hotel websites.
4. Innovative Design Concept: In the past, hotel decoration relied on architecture and art to create uniqueness and beauty in their spaces. But nowadays, technology is being used more in hotel decoration. For example, some hotels have installed display screens in certain areas, creating Interactive Wall Art Using technology, where the screens display various data according to the movement of guests, allowing guests to interact with the screens.
5. Access & Payment: Some hotels have created wristbands that guests can use to scan for room entry and make payments at various outlets in the hotel and resort. These wristbands can also be used to scan for access to services such as the water park, and even purchase tickets through gates to various attractions within the hotel's network.
6. Robotic Technology: Even Though hotels are primarily service-oriented prioritizing on Service Mind, which can be best served by humans, there is now an experimental introduction of robots into the hotel industry. There is a trend that there will be more robots in the future, as we have seen in the news.
These are case studies that have already been adopted and used widely in the global hotel industry, and it is expected to be adopted to Thailand in the future.
