We’re showcasing what has been the hottest tech news trends for the hospitality industry so far this year. No it’s not “fake news”, it’s the real deal and we won’t be holding back on how we feel about these trends.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“If we attract young people, old people will show up. But if you build a hotel for old people, young people never show up,” - Scott Greenberg, president and chief executive of SMASHotels
FYI:
SMASHotels is a hospitality management group that is committed to providing distinct, engaging and unforgettable travel experiences by using innovative technologies.
TnP’s Take
We think this means that if hotels provide Millennial things like Uber and Postmates through their hotel app, they’re benefitting the young, the old, and the restless (AKA me).
REPEAT AFTER ME…….
What to say to your friend who can’t seem to book a hotel……
Ask Alexa. Kayak, the Stamford, Connecticut based company is the first of the online travel players to offer bookings through Amazon’s Alexa.
Is it that simple?
Not really. To actually pay for your booking, an Amazon user must share their credit card details with Kayak. You won’t be able to pay for the booking through Amazon and you can’t use a digital wallet. Someone who knows their answers to the 5 W’s, who, what, where, when and why, might have an easier time booking with Alexa rather than someone who has a more complex vacation plan and is also obsessed with finding the lowest rate (who isn’t?)
TnP’s Take
For this type of platform, Amazon is dominating the market in voice activated speakers and even though Kayak has few competitors it will take some time to take off. Kayak’s Keller explains “It’s very new to sell goods by voice for any category of product that retails for more than, say, $100.” That means for now I’ll still be using Alexa to order a pizza but booking a hotel will still have to be through a website. (I know, SO 2016.)
What to say to your friend who can’t miss a day of the gym…….
Can’t stop, won’t stop. Gyms are taking over entire hotels and in good taste. No longer do gyms look like an afterthought or a forgotten space. There is so much thought that now is put into lighting, walls and décor, hotels want guests to feel at home and experience the locale around them. With cross fitness classes incorporating local scenery or doing yoga on the beach guests will be working out and getting their tan in.
TnP’s Take
Thomas Klein the COO of Canyon Ranch believes “travelers now value wellness more than ever, and demand similar fitness opportunities to what they find at home, whether they’re on vacation or a business trip.”. With everyone going more organic, gluten free and fitness friendly, seems like having an exciting gym rather than just running on a lone treadmill is the way to go. I’d be happy any day to Namaste on the beach with a view at a resort, you know because winter is coming. No, I’m not talking about Game of Thrones, I’m talking about the Chicago winter.
What to say when the concierge at the hotel desk asks you how long your stay is for?
8 minutes. That is how long you can rent a room for now, it can be more or less. Thanks to the new app Recharge, you can rent a room of a luxury hotel by the minute. Why on earth would you want to rent a room by the minute you ask? To shower quickly, to change from daytime wear to evening wear for meetings or to get some snooze in before your long commute home. In from out of town? No worries rent a room for exactly 33 minutes before you have to go to your all day meeting.
Is it that simple?
Yes, just download the app on your iPhone or Android and find the hotel nearest to you and hit book now. Your billing period starts 30 minutes later and you’re charged for the amount you stay. Prices in New York range from $0.83 to $2.00 per minute. Whether your priority is getting in 15-minute power naps or an 8-minute shower your stay might not cost you that much.
TnP’s Take
Seems like this trend will catch on quick. With consumers in San Francisco and New York already booking hotels using the app, soon hotels in Chicago and Los Angeles will follow this trend. This trend will not only make consumers happy but also hoteliers, thanks to early check-ins and check-outs about 35% of rooms are vacant during the day, so it’s about filling those vacant rooms. "Measuring the hotel by vacancy, as opposed to occupancy, is a futuristic way to look at hotel metrics," said Barry Sternlicht, the veteran hospitality guru behind 1hotels.com. Since I have a 30-minute break, you can find me snoozing and showering at the luxury hotel next door.
References:
http://observer.com/2017/05/hotel-gym-makeovers-and-spartan-races/?platform=hootsuite
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