Welcome to the future: how will the hotels of the future look like?

Is there a queue at the reception? Balcony overlooking the sea? A room without air conditioning? Yes, you live in the last century – and rest there! 21st-century hotels are not like that. Well, or they will change very soon.

The future that has already arrived: technologies, and not today, so in a year or five, will appear in many hotels in the world.

So what’s in store for us?

Smart rooms

By 2060, the hotel room of today will be almost unrecognisable.
The room of the future will have:

Facial recognition entry systems
Multiple sensors attuned to you
Talk-back TV
Touchscreen surfaces
Smart toilets and mirrors
Neuro-enhanced aromas
Towels with pollution wipe nano coatings
Wireless temperature controls
Self-assembling and personalised beds and pillows based on neuro-feedback
Holographic entertainment

The view from the window is already in the past. In the hotel of the future, you can set up virtual reality as you like. When such technology appears in Moscow, it will probably be possible to walk among the bear cubs in a pine forest from Shishkin’s canvas.

Ideas that such well-known hotel chains as Hilton, Marriott, and Melia are already applying or will launch in the near future in their hotels:

Smart windows change light and color

It’s time to scrap curtains and blinds. Glasses in windows will change their transparency and shade at the request of the guest. Said “Sleep” – darkened, wanted the sun – shone.

Mobile check-in

Check-in at a hotel is already a reality in the Marriott and Hilton networks. True, only for regular guests and using a special application. You don’t have to go to the check-in counter at all, straight to the room – it will open from your iPhone or Apple Watch.

You can learn more by reading our “Mobile Check-In App for Hotels: What Are The Benefits?” post.

Marriott Bonvoy 250 Points Mobile App Check-In Bonus. Source: LoyaltyLobby

Voice control

Thanks to the very popular topic of the Internet of Things today, there will simply not be a single item in the issue that does not have access to the Internet and does not understand the human voice. Air conditioner, I’m hot, keep it cool. Wake me up tomorrow at 7 am (the TV will “hear” you, the alarm clock will ring exactly at 7 o’clock, and soon it will display a yoga lesson).
The rise of home-based gadgets such as Alexa and Siri has illustrated that the mechanics behind basic voice searches have incredibly evolved during the past few years. Not only are more detailed answers provided, but it is much easier to employ these systems as a means to augment existing hotel technology. In a hands-free world, this makes a great deal of sense. Guests can now book reservations or immediately contact a hotel representative using dedicated voice-activated applications. This is quite beneficial while out and about. Voice technology is certainly set to replace more traditional options such as a static telephone number. In an era partially defined by electronic immediacy, it only stands to reason that voice searches have been included within this list.

FIND MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND EXAMPLES ABOUT TO APPLY VOICE SEARCHES IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY IN THE ARTICLE “HOW CAN VOICE CONTROL BENEFIT THE HOTEL INDUSTRY?”

Video: Alexa for Hospitality

Connected all the way

We now have everything in our smartphones: an electronic plane ticket, a boarding pass, a hotel reservation … And hoteliers are thinking about how to establish communication with airlines and airports. The hotel computer system will immediately receive information: passenger Ivanov has arrived, received his luggage, is already on his way – welcome!

Headphones-translator

Until all hotel employees have been replaced by robots, this thing will help staff and guests communicate freely in any country in the world.

Hotel Virtual Reality Tours

In many ways, VR is the ultimate way to experience a hotel before making a booking and many hotel websites are turning to VR tours and 360 videos during the booking process to attract additional sales. With concerns about COVID, VR tours can be especially useful, helping customers to understand exactly what to expect during their stay.

Most virtual reality tours can be viewed in a standard web browser on a computer, mobile or tablet, making it a widely accessible hotel technology. However, the experience can be enhanced with a dedicated VR headset.

Video: Pullman Brisbane King George Square Hotel VR Tour

Guest Apps

Smartphones have taken centre stage in terms of daily communications. From chatting with friends to answering emails and purchasing products online, the fact of the matter is that the average consumer has come to depend upon such innovative applications. This observation has not been lost within the hospitality sector. Hotels are now developing their own selection of branded apps so that guests can enjoy an even greater level of connectivity and correspondence. Modern bundles offer features such as virtual payments, 360-degree tours of a room and immediate contact with a concierge.