Innovation in Hotel: How IoT improves Hospitality

How IoT works?

Internet of Things has varied applications and use cases. Hotels can use this technology to provide integrated services like tablet controlled devices and automatic triggers like room curtains opening when guests walk in. IoT can be used to enhance in-room experiences and also to create interactive features at common areas.

Tablets / App Based In-Room Features

In-room tablets that allow guests to adjust room temperature, access room service and housekeeping, control television (or watch TV on the tablet), order movies, check flight information, access city guides, turn on lighting, set curtains to open and close, schedule wake-up calls, book spa appointments. and function as a VoIP telephone.
Automatic notifications once guests step in the hotel. These could be hotel information or special discounts.
App acts as a virtual concierge and allows guests to communicate with staff or find nearby attractions.

In-Room Experiences

Hi-Tech Hotel Room with automatically controlled curtains, temperature etc.

Automated voice personal greetings (good morning, afternoon or evening) when guests enter the room.
When guests enter a room, the curtains open, music plays and climate control switches on. Guests can change settings and save preferences. Everything reverts back to hotel’s setting when guests leave the room and returns to the their preferences when they come back. Preferences can also also recorded and stored for the next visit.

Room Service Improvements

Digital Buttons behind Beds to Control Devices, Call Room Service etc.

Instead of dialing service requests to housekeeping, guests can send a message straight to the closest member of staff’s mobile device.
Touchscreen next to the phones to request extra pillows, get a toothbrush or order meals (without picking up the phone).
Body heat detecting infrared sensors let housekeeping staff know when guests have left their rooms.

Interactive Gadgets

Bathroom mirror also functions as an interactive display for news, weather, and messages. Guests can also pair their phones via Bluetooth and see Twitter feeds or other alerts directly on the mirror.
Wall surfaces serve as voice and gesture controlled monitors that double as video-conferencing panels and even play slideshows of guests’ own photos.
Electro-responsive fibers in pillows monitors blood pressure, sleep patterns, and stress levels; music or lighting will be adjusted accordingly to help you relax. The system could even summon a doctor.

IoT Across The Hotel

Elevator plays tunes according to number of passengers.
In public areas, a sound system plays selected audio according to the time of day — chirping birds in the daytime and crickets at night.
At restaurants, hotel collects real-time information about what’s selling and what’s not. Slot machines and video poker stations also collect data for hotel’s use.
When guests enter the lobby a sensor takes a picture and displays personalized, kaleidoscope-like digital artwork.

Benefits of IoT in Hotels

Benefits to customers: Guests get the convenience of managing most of their hotel experience from one device. Also the experience is fun and futuristic.

Benefits to hotel: These technologies help hotels to offer better in-room service and experience. Digital tracking and interactivity enables better customer profiling. It also allows for customized services for each customer and thus earning their loyalties. Hotels also get noticed as modern and innovative, and guests are more likely to share their experience with their friends. As the resources (like room heating) are automatically managed and optimized as per requirements, there is a noticeable energy savings for hotels. Integration of gadgets management into an app enables guests to rely less on hotel staff, which reduces the human workload. Early adopters of this technology will also get a definite competitive edge

Basic Tech Details

Hardware: Tablet, smartphones, IoT supporting gadgets, connectivity hub

Software: iOS, Android, Windows Mobile

Technology: Wifi, Bluetooth, Beacon

Part of customer journey: In hotel experience, from in-room facilities to Internet of Things based features across the hotel.

Hotels that are doing this

Aria Hotel’s in-room technology

The Chedi’s Grand Deluxe room features

Mondrian SoHo Hotel puts iPad in every room

The Torch Doha’s luxury rooms

Plaza Hotel’s in-room iPad features

CitizenM Hotel room controls