Maximize bookings by embracing new technology

The hospitality industry is known for constant innovation and evolution, and it has become increasingly important to stay up to date with the latest tech products and services. After all, the best technology not only attracts guests to your property but also ensures that each guest has a safe, enjoyable stay that leaves them excited to return and share their experience with others. This, in turn, can help you maximize bookings and drive as much revenue as possible to your property.

The COVID-19 crisis proved the need for rapid change in the hospitality industry, including a full-on embrace of innovative tech solutions. Hotels were forced to reexamine everything from the way their guests book rooms to their housekeeping procedures to the check-in and check-out process.

How today’s new technology can keep you ahead of the competition

The need for cutting-edge technology in the hospitality industry is growing, and nowhere is that more evident than when using tech to capture bookings. With the help of some cutting-edge software, hotels can now identify and communicate with potential guests while they’re in the planning phase, promoting their property as the best choice.

While some travelers may pick their hotel on a whim, the majority of savvy customers spend a great deal of time selecting a property that best meets their needs. That’s a good thing for hotels, with the right mix of tech products, they can identify leads that their property is uniquely suited for. SEO (search engine optimization) tools like Moz and Google Trends can make it easy to optimize your marketing budget by targeting your top leads in a search engine, while analytics tools like Google Analytics and Google AdWords offer insights into your website visitors and the ability to follow up with them.

Speaking of a hotel’s website, it’s wise to consider adding an interactive tool to your website, such as web chat, in order to address FAQs and encourage guests to book directly. You’ll now be circumventing OTAs. As an added bonus, a smartconcierge, such as Revinate’s Ivy, can automatically answer over 60% of guests’ questions, freeing up staff to spend their time creating memorable, personalized experiences for in-house guests.

Tools like Google analytics and web chat can help you identify the travelers who are most likely to consider your hotel a perfect fit. Yet, their impact on the guest’s decision-making process is minimal. Guests are more likely to read reviews before booking their stay. That’s why your reputation management is so important. Technology can help here too. Wow your guests while they’re still on property or avoid a negative review by addressing the problem, then encourage them to leave positive reviews that influence other travelers. 

Technology that makes a guest’s visit hassle-free, or that’s simply interesting to try, is often the difference between a traveler choosing one hotel over its competitors.

Many guests, especially frequent travelers, look for hotels utilizing the latest technology. Everything from state-of-the-art fitness equipment to champagne vending machines to a virtual concierge, can make their stay easier, safer, and more fun. It’s no surprise that over 77% of respondents to a survey conducted by Oracle wanted the ability to request room service and other deliveries through their mobile device like WiFi, guests have begun to view the smartconcierge and other tech perks as a must-have, rather than a nice-to-have.