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Beyond this, voice control can also particular hospitality trend, and the web- website and also provides QR codes on
control devices within hotel rooms, based nature of modern VR tours means business literature.
enhancing the guest experience. For they should be easily accessible on many
example, smart speakers can provide devices, even without a VR headset. Contactless Payments.
guests with answers to questions and Many of the biggest hospitality trends
respond to voice requests to turn on lights Mobile Check-In Service. are concerned with reducing or avoiding
and devices within the room. This can Primarily associated with hotels and friction, and contactless payments have
also reduce the number of surfaces guests other forms of accommodation, offering a become one of the most prominent
touch. mobile check-in service is one of the most examples. Customers save time sorting
useful hospitality trends for reducing through cash or entering their PIN when
Robots in Hotel and Restaurant Settings. the need for human-to-human contact. accepting contactless payments. The
Automation ranks high on the list of This was an especially important concept emergence of Apple Pay and Google Pay
hospitality trends to be aware of, and within the context of the COVID-19 also removes the need to carry a wallet.
robotics is a good example of this being pandemic. Aside from avoiding friction and
taken further. Hotels, restaurants and With that being said, even in more improving the customer experience, the
similar businesses can use robots to normal times, mobile check-ins can coronavirus pandemic has also increased
greet customers and provide customer allow customers to benefit from self- the demand for contactless payments.
information, while they can also play a service and will make the arrivals part Many customers and staff members
vital role in security operations. of the customer experience much faster. feel uncomfortable handling cash, and
Within the hotel setting, robots have For this to be successful, it is essential providing the option for contactless
been used to offer room service and to provide customers access to an app, payments may be seen by many as a
perform cleaning and other housekeeping which includes a link to the hotel or lodge necessity rather than a luxury. dw
chores. Meanwhile, restaurants can
potentially use robots to carry out aspects
of food service. This can be especially
useful when dealing with restaurant
customers trying to reduce close contact
with people as much as possible.

Virtual Reality Tours.
Virtual reality ranks among the top
hospitality technology trends, providing
the means for potential hotel guests or
restaurant diners to experience their
surroundings, all from the comfort of
their own homes. This can be crucial for
moving these people from the planning
stage to committing to a visit.
Virtual tours/360 videos can help
some customers to better understand the
facilities available. Offering this service
also gives one a clear edge over any
rivals that are not yet capitalising on this

dw • Issue 285 31