2024 Trends for Hospitality: Hotels’ Increasingly Digital Strategies

Increased use of new technology

The adoption of digital technologies is enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency. Smart displays leveraging the Samsung VXT digital signage platform provide guests with real-time information, including news, weather updates, event schedules, and promotions. Using a hotel's app, guests can check in or out from their mobile devices, speeding up the process but also providing a contactless option to enhance safety. Digital room keys are accessed through a hotel’s app as well, turning the guest's smartphone into a key. Utilizing artificial intelligence, virtual concierge services can provide 24/7 assistance to guests, from answering queries about hotel amenities to making dining reservations and booking tours.

Better and more blatant sustainability measures

The hospitality industry is increasingly embracing sustainability as part of its operations, with more hotels seeking to cater to environmentally conscious guests. Many hotels are implementing waste reduction strategies that include recycling programs, the elimination of single-use plastics, and the use of biodegradable materials. Hotels are increasingly incorporating energy-efficient appliances and lighting systems and are turning to renewable energy sources such as solar panels. By sourcing food locally, hotels can support local agriculture, reduce transportation emissions associated with long-distance food shipping, and provide guests with fresher, more authentic menus. And with Samsung VXT, users can manage electricity usage levels remotely with the platform’s display management software to keep costs at a minimum and extend display life.

Personalization

Hotels are increasingly leveraging data analytics to offer personalized guest experiences, enhancing customer satisfaction. By analyzing guest preferences and previous stay information, hotels can tailor room environments to individual needs, such as setting a preferred temperature, lighting, or room layout. Rooms enabled with IoT devices can automatically adjust settings as soon as the guest checks in using their digital profile. Lobby signage can greet guests by name, provide information tailored to their interests and itinerary, and show content such as welcome messages for conference attendees or daily specials in the hotel restaurant.

Health and wellness

The trend towards health and wellness in the hospitality industry is becoming increasingly prominent, with hotels offering amenities to cater to the health-conscious traveler. Hotel fitness centers are evolving beyond a room with a treadmill and weights and now often include state-of-the-art equipment, fitness classes, and sometimes even personal training services.  Many properties are adapting their menu offerings to include healthier options, sourcing local and organic produce, and providing a range of dietary accommodations such as gluten-free, vegan, and ketogenic options.

Contactless services

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of contactless technologies in the hospitality industry, and many guests have come to prefer these innovations, finding them not only safer in terms of health and hygiene but also more efficient and user-friendly. Contactless check-in and check-out allow guests to bypass the front desk, managing their arrival and departure through a hotel app, website, or a self-service kiosk. Contactless payment methods such as QR codes and mobile payment platforms such as Apple Pay or Google Wallet are becoming popular as well. Using mobile apps or in-room tablets, guests can order food, request additional amenities, or seek housekeeping services without interaction with staff or the need for physical menus.

Local experiences

Hotels are increasingly embracing the trend of offering localized experiences to their guests, tapping into a desire for authentic, immersive encounters similar to those popularized by platforms such as Airbnb. Some are partnering with local tour operators or hiring guides to offer personalized tours that explore the area's culture, history, and attractions, while some offer cooking classes where guests can learn to prepare regional dishes under the guidance of local chefs. Some are offering workshops where guests can learn a craft or artistic technique specific to the region, such as pottery making, painting, or traditional dance lessons.

Co-working spaces

As remote work becomes more prevalent, hotels are adapting by offering co-working spaces to cater to the needs of business travelers by providing desk space, computer workstations, or meeting rooms. Digital signage enhances the user experience in these co-working spaces by providing real-time information, guidance, and personalized interactions. Digital signage can display the availability of meeting rooms, private booths, or workstations, while screens placed at the entrance or throughout the co-working space can show schedules, allowing guests to quickly see which rooms are available and for how long.

The hospitality industry's adoption of digital strategies is an evolution in how hotels operate and engage with their guests. From smart digital displays that offer personalized greetings and information to mobile check-in/out processes, digital room keys, and AI-powered concierge services, the digital transformation is enhancing the guest experience, streamlining operations, and opening new opportunities for personalized service.

Check out our Hotel page for more information on what Samsung VXT can do for you.