With the rise of new rooming apps like Airbnb, the traditional hotel experience, as we have all come to know and experience and see in countless films and television shows, has been forced to change. With more and more people eschewing the classic model of the hotel, it can seem like the industry is slowly dying on life support.
However, the traditional hotels of the hospitality industry still have a lot of life in them, and a lot of amenities and extras to offer that just can’t be matched by someone simply renting out a spare room over the internet.
Smart Tech
One area where hotels have seen a lot of positive feedback from millennial guests is the incorporation of smart technology. By allowing guests to use their smart watches and smartphones to speed up their check-in and get their room number, the process is streamlined and made much more attractive to tech-savvy millennial travelers.
Upgraded technology throughout every corner of the hotel follows this trend, with everything from the hotel lobby equipment to the furnishings in each individual room. K-cup coffee makers being available in each room offers weary travelers unparalleled convenience and functionality, making them worth the initial investment over the classic 4-cup brewers found in most hotel rooms.
Shared Interests
Hotels doing more to integrate guests based on their professional and personal interests is another place where the hotels of the future will shine. By connecting to guests’ social media and professional profiles, connections and shared activities can be suggested between residents in the common rooms.
This is especially good for youth hotels and hostels, as most guests of those report, they need the room only to drop off their items. According to them, the main draw is the socialization afforded to them by having so many different and diverse people under one roof. Room sharing will never be able to match the ability of hotels to bring large groups together. The hotel of the future will have more communal spaces, with a unique and curated decor and vibe that more closely matches the local experience.
Integration with Apps
Instead of offering a simple kitchen with basic fare for travelers, integration with local restaurants and apps like GrubHub and Eat24 offers guests more access to local cuisine and options. This spares the hotel from the expense and hassle of having to run a kitchen, as guests can simply go through the hotel to order up whatever they’d like to their room.
Guests might then take their local eats down to a communal working space, using a desk in the lobby and the hotel Wi-Fi to get some work done on their laptop computer.
Interconnected Hubs
By offering an interconnected hub of interactivity and professional and personal co-mingling, hotels can point the way to the future and become more than just spaces for travelers. The hotel of the future will be a lean, technologically advanced multi-use environment that maximizes space for efficiency and networking among millennial travelers.
While the rise of room sharing apps might seem like a grim portent for traditional hotels, with some simple restructuring and refocusing, hotels can continue to offer an experience that simply can’t be matched.
