February 5th, 2024

Top 10 Hotel Room Technology Trends

by travelboom

Hotel tech trends include personalized services and top-notch amenities that cater to travelers, creating a seamless, comfortable experience. Integrating smart technology into hotel rooms to predict guests’ needs and increase their engagement with the space is a trend in the hospitality industry worth noting. Not only does the trend impress vacationers and business travelers alike, it can also reduce the hotel staff’s workload and improve operational efficiency. New, tech-savvy features are novelties that increase demand and provide a catered-to experience that travelers will return for again and again. Plus, showing off these in-room amenities in your marketing campaigns can draw traffic to your website, enticing vacationers to book. If you’re building a new resort or renovating an existing property, take note of these hotel room technology trends.

1. Mobile Check-in & Keyless Entry

These two hotel room technology trends have become staples of the hospitality industry. Keyless entry eliminates the need—and hassle—of a magnetic keycard which can be lost or deactivated, and improves security. When keys can be delivered to guests’ smartphones digitally, travelers can check in on their phones, skipping the line at reception.

2. Internet of Things Devices

As the name suggests, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, appliances, or equipment is fitted with internet connectivity to send and receive data or listen to instructions. Internet-enabled heating, lighting, and televisions can be controlled from a central hub—or a guest’s smartphone—to eliminate finding light switches or remotes. The IoT capabilities send real-time information to hotel staff when heating, cooling, or entertainment devices need service or maintenance to keep everything in excellent working order.

3. Room Service Apps

Room service has declined in recent years, but thanks to technological improvements, this hotel offering is making a comeback. Like other technology trends in the hospitality industry, room service apps are giving this classic resort feature a much-needed upgrade. Instead of keeping hard-copy menus clean and up to date, hoteliers can provide a QR code to a digital menu and an ordering app. No one has to monitor a dedicated phone line, and ordering simulates food-delivery apps that guests are comfortable using.

4. Voice-Activated Climate Control

Climate control significantly affects the quality of a guest’s stay. The latest hotel room technology trends for voice-activated heating and cooling make guests’ comfort a priority. Speaking to the thermostat, rather than getting out of bed and fumbling with an unfamiliar interface, is a convenience that can lead to better downtime and sleep, two things anyone away from home values.

5. Smart Bathrooms

Offering technology in the ensuite bathroom creates a personalized guest experience. Smart showers can be preset to anyone’s preferred water temperature and pressure, and features like steam control create a spa-like experience. Smart mirrors defog and adjust to provide ideal lighting for grooming and makeup tasks. Guests can also display the news and weather in the mirror to make getting ready for the day efficient and luxurious.

6. Tech-Savvy Televisions

Guests demand more than cable on a flat screen, so any hotel looking to make an impression should consider upgrading to Smart TVs, the latest hotel tech trends in televisions. These devices offer streaming services, social media apps, games, and custom content so no one has to lug their entertainment devices with them to make themselves at home. Some televisions connect to in-room tech so guests can use them to control lights or air conditioning, too.

7. Air Filtration Systems

Clean air ranks high on guests’ must-have lists when traveling. Air filtration systems were sought-after amenities during the pandemic, and whether or not COVID still makes an impact on leisure travel, in-room air purifiers continue to rank among the top trends in the hospitality industry. More guests are willing to pay premium rates for hypoallergenic accommodations, and the extra filtration leaves rooms feeling fresh, making an excellent first impression.

8. Wellness Extras

Offering in-room extras to improve wellness is a trend hotels can use to attract guests looking for a retreat-like experience. On-demand workout classes, fitness mirrors, aromatherapy diffusers, and towel warmers are some of the hotel tech trends properties are embracing to transform conventional rooms into sanctuaries for wellness travelers.

9. Automated Lighting

Smart lighting systems are technology trends in the hospitality industry that benefit guests and help hotels reach their sustainability goals. These systems go beyond a dimmer switch, providing bulb color and brightness options to match guests’ moods whether they are spending the night in or going out on the town. Bulbs can detect natural lighting and adjust to save energy, and some systems will shut off while the room is unoccupied and power on to greet guests upon arrival.

10. Voice Assistants

Similar to other service-related hotel tech trends, voice assistants allow guests to forgo a visit to the lobby and get information right in their room. A guest leaves a message with a bot and gets a text or spoken response immediately. These assistants act as concierge desks, making dining reservations or spa appointments, and they can provide accurate hotel information, like the pool hours and checkout times.

While a slick website design can help get potential guests’ attention, a fantastic stay convinces them to return time after time. If you need help applying the latest travel trends to your marketing efforts, contact TravelBoom for an evaluation today.