The hospitality industry is constantly evolving, and hotel managers need to adapt quickly to stay ahead of emerging industry trends and challenges. Let’s look at three innovations that are making life easier for hotel managers all over the world:
1. AI in Hotel Operations
AI is changing hotel operations by handling routine tasks, improving guest experiences, and managing resources more effectively. Here’s how hotels are using AI today:
Guest Services and Communication
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants make it easier for guests to get information, from local recommendations to hotel services, before and during their stay. These tools provide instant responses to inquiries, offering recommendations that have been curated by experts while also encouraging guests to engage with the on-site staff for even more personalized support, unlocking additional tips, local connections, and exclusive deals.
In 2023, Marriott International introduced RENAI By Renaissance, an AI assistant to help guests discover local experiences more easily. Guests can scan a QR code and connect with RENAI via text or WhatsApp to receive tailored suggestions for restaurants, bars, tours, and activities—all handpicked by local experts. This blend of technology and human knowledge gives guests authentic and personalized experiences.
Personalized Experiences
AI helps hotels offer more personalized services by analyzing guest data to better understand preferences. According to a McKinsey & Company study, 71% of consumers expect personalized interactions, and 76% are frustrated when they don’t receive them.
Revinate is a hospitality technology company that uses AI to analyze guest data, helping hotels create personalized marketing campaigns and improve guest loyalty. Village Realty attributed over $40 million in revenue to Revinate’s marketing suite over three years, highlighting the platform’s effectiveness in driving bookings through personalized communication.
Brittain Resorts and Hotels, which operates 18 properties in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, used Revinate’s AI-powered marketing tools to refine their approach. By focusing on specific guest segments and personalizing outreach, they were able to connect more effectively with guests. This strategy led to better engagement, higher conversions, and ultimately $54 million in revenue over two years. This example shows just how impactful AI can be for large hotel groups aiming to boost bookings and build guest loyalty.
2. Hotel Key Management Systems
When keys go missing or leave the building, it creates security risks and can easily disrupt hotel operations, which often leads to inefficiencies, increased costs to replace them, and service disruptions that negatively impact both staff and guest experiences. Solutions like Keycafe provide comprehensive hotel key management solutions that enhance security by ensuring only authorized staff and contractors have access to keys.
How a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Connecticut Solved Key Management
In Windsor Locks, Connecticut, The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel faced challenges with key management, including misplaced keys and a lack of accountability when keys went missing. By implementing Keycafe’s SmartBox, the hotel improved key security, enhanced key management processes, and reduced administrative burden.
Staff members now use PIN codes to collect and return keys, ensuring accountability and streamlining key management processes and operations. Real-time tracking of key usage provides transparency, allowing management to monitor key access effectively. Keycafe’s user-friendly interface made the transition easy, and the solution has become an integral part of daily routines.
“We know exactly who had which key and who didn’t return their keys, giving us complete control of our building.”
Mohamed Anwer
Director of Food and Beverage at DoubleTree Hartford
The introduction of Keycafe transformed DoubleTree Hartford’s key management system; time previously spent managing keys is now redirected to providing better guest services and other essential operations. Learn more about their journey and other case studies here.
3. Staff Management Tools
High staff turnover is a constant challenge in the hotel industry. New tools for scheduling, time tracking, and task management can help everyone—from general managers to front office staff—make daily operations more efficient. Here are two tools that can help ease the burden of daily processes:
- When I Work provides powerful features for employee scheduling, time tracking, and real-time communication. When I Work is designed to meet the hospitality industry’s specific needs, helping simplify workforce management and improve operational efficiency. This intuitive platform allows hotel managers to focus on delivering great guest experiences while ensuring that staff schedules align with demand effectively.
- Hotel Effectiveness by Actabl is specifically designed for the hospitality industry; it offers labor management features to help you reduce labor costs and improve productivity. Hotel Effectiveness is simple to use and helps you cut labor costs by at least 5%. Some hotels have even seen overtime drop by as much as 90%. Today, 1 in 5 hotels in the US uses this system to track hours, manage overtime, and make sure staffing meets guest needs—saving both time and money.
Moving Forward
The hospitality industry is evolving quickly, and staying ahead means more than just keeping up—you need to set new standards. By using these tools, you can ease your staff’s workload, streamline operations, and make every guest’s experience unforgettable.
To learn more about how these tools can help transform your hotel’s operations:
- Schedule a demo with Keycafe to see how our hotel key management solutions can optimize your processes and enhance security.
- Explore When I Work to discover how it can simplify workforce management and ensure staff schedules align with guest demand effectively.
- Learn more about Hotel Effectiveness by Actabl to see how it can help reduce labor costs and improve productivity.
- See how Revinate can personalize your guest experience and enhance loyalty through AI-driven marketing campaigns.
