Operto Guest Technologies, a leading provider of smart devices and connected technology for the global hotel, vacation and short-term rental industries has surveyed over 200 hospitality providers for a new whitepaper on The State of Tech-Enabled Stays from 2021-2023.
The report highlights five clear trends shaping hospitality technology:
- 86% of hoteliers and short-term rental providers identify operations automation as a top priority - tech is leading hospitality recovery
- 76% of hoteliers plan to reduce front desk staff significantly in the next 12 months - tech is reinventing the hotel front desk
- 34% plan on investing 11-25% more in keyless and automated tech in next 2 years - operators plan to invest in tech whilst maintaining profit margin
- Half of all operators surveyed said guests either expect or prefer an automated, contactless check-in - expectations have changed for the long-haul
- 48% said guests expect keyless door entry - contactless access a priority but guests starting to expect other types of connected tech
Tech adoption has accelerated over the past year and these results confirm that operators are responding to guest expectations of contactless tech with 86% of operators prioritising automating their operations. Keyless entry emerges as a key guest demand and 76% of hoteliers will replace the front desk with connected tech options in the future.
As travel opens up again, Steve Davis, Operto CEO, predicts that “Technology will be an absolute necessity for any hospitality business looking to stay competitive. The companies that make the switch will ultimately deliver the most memorable and pleasing guest experiences, with joined-up, customer-centric technology that changes with guest behaviors, habit changes, and post-Covid expectations. The travel industry has faced a major crisis over the last 12 months, but many operators have also used this time to re-boot and invest in technology partners that help to deliver exactly what the guest wants.”