Hospitality Technology Trends for 2019

Staying on top of current trends is vital for any business, but it is especially important for businesses in the hospitality industry. Whether you are a hotel, in the travel industry, or an airline, your ability to stay up to date with what’s hot now is crucial for your ongoing success.

Enhanced Customer Service

One of the biggest ongoing hotel industry trends is customer service. While this might seem like a no-brainer, customers and clients expect more from the businesses they frequent than they used to. This means anticipating their needs, often before they even have them. This includes convenience and ease of use will be top priorities—just like you want to be able to shop uniforms for your employees easily, your guests want to access the internet, have room temperature control, and enjoy responsive interactions quickly and efficiently.

waiters prepare a table for breakfast

Smart Devices

One way to have responsive interactions with your customers is through smart technology. Just like your smartphone has voice and fingerprint recognition, your customers will come to expect that same integrative experience with your company. This may also integrate augmented reality—a way for a digital experience to overlap a real one. From overlaying a restaurant map on a map of the area around your hotel to allowing guests to see 3D versions of their room options, this new technology is making huge strides.

Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots

Along with smart devices, AI is up there in hospitality and hotel industry news. While robots aren’t new, they are certainly used more than you might think. Chatbots can support your business by making your customer service available 24/7, even if you aren’t. With a responsive chatbot, your customers can ask questions and get friendly, personalized feedback at any time of day. With more companies utilizing this sort of technology, more customers will come to expect that immediate service.

Artificial Intelligence technology is progressing quickly, and it is learning just as fast. AI can now manage your hotel or airline’s bookings, answer customer questions, and entertain guests while your employees do the hard work.

Remember Your Market

It can be easy to lose sight of your target market with everything that is thrown at business owners today, but it’s critical that you don’t. Millennials, in particular, are changing up how customers interact with businesses, and you don’t want to be slow to realize that!

Nowadays, customers are looking more for an experience rather than a material thing or item. What does that mean for you? It means that your customer service—from your security uniforms to the ethical practices of your business—needs to be top-notch. From fun events to quirky experiences, travelers now are looking to enjoy their time with companies that have strong messages and know their audience. Keeping a fresh social media page and current ethical standards while focusing on their needs will be a huge step forward in pulling in their business.

When you’re ready to update your business to match the current industry trends, check out our extensive uniform offerings—men’s work clothing, security uniforms, food processing, and more—and our durable welcome mats that invite both employees and guests to stay awhile.