Coronavirus has changed the face of the world as we know it, arguably impacting the hospitality industry more so than anyone else. Hotels and restaurants must innovate and, change practices that have been set in stone for years, in order to keep their guests and staff safe. Luckily there are a few solutions already in use that can be easily adopted by the industry as a whole. Providing they have the network for it, of course!
Automated Self Check-In and Check-out
One of the biggest current challenges around the Coronavirus crisis is limiting the contact customers have with staff and ensuring that social distancing is maintained. We’re all now accustomed to speaking to people through a plastic screen and a face mask but what if we could cut out that interaction altogether?
Automated self-check-in services could be the way to go. Once a guest has registered through the Brand’s app, they will have the ability to check-in and select their room without ever having to interact with the front desk. Services like Wishbox provide hotels with the means to completely digitize their guest experience, even allowing guests to scan their passport in order to verify their reservation. Once their stay is over, the hotel’s PMS system will communicate with the app and guest check-out will commence without needing to hand over any physical keys or speak to the front desk.
Digital Key Card Systems
Contactless technologies are the most important emerging trends for post-COVID hotel operations. By eliminating the handing over of keys we give guests and staff alike peace of mind. Digital key card systems could be the way to go.
Nowadays, everyone has a smartphone. So everyone already has a potential hotel room key waiting to be used! The process of acquiring your digital key can even be tied into the aforementioned automated self-check-in.
Once the guest has selected their room a digital key is activated inside the hotel app. The guest needs only to hold their phone up to the room door and they’re in!
App-Based Food Services
When was the last time you ordered takeaway food to your home over the phone? Chances are, you would have used one of the many food delivery services available on our app stores. So why should it be different for hotels? Room service could be offered using a digital menu within the hotel app. Eliminating the need for guests to pick up the in-room phone or interacting with hotel staff.
This could even be taken a step further and apply to within the hotel restaurants and bars. Once the guest is seated at their table they simply open the app, enter their table number, and scroll through the menu. Payment can be taken through the app so there’s no need to interact with the waiter, other than when they’re bringing your food and drinks over.
Wearables (Contactless Bracelets)
For those lucky enough to have visited any of the Disney theme parks across the globe you’ll probably be aware of their MagicBand contactless system. The MagicBands are an all in one payment, entry, FastPass and hotel key system. This negates the need for guests to carry around multiple different passes, cards, and keys. Guests are encouraged to use these bands when making purchases, eliminating cash and person to person contact.
Network Requirements
Hotels will need a robust wireless network in order to accommodate the increased usage of smartphones. A Hotspot 2.0 Network would be perfect in this environment, ensuring guest devices wouldn’t be disconnected whilst using these smart services. For more information on the latest in wireless network technologies and to see how Airangel can help you transition to a post-COVID world, click here.
