It is no surprise that since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel industry took a significant plunge. With the continuation of added travel restrictions and regulations, guests like my family decided to cancel our summer vacations and have halted our holiday travel plans.
However, through the integration of innovative new technologies, hotels have set themselves apart from the competition by prioritizing safety and convenience to make guests feel more secure with their choice to travel for the first time for many months. The added technology is enticing for guests, but it can also increase revenues for hotels.
Hotels should focus on delivering the best possible experience for guests. A Sitel Group report highlights the importance of customer service:
“Even amid a pandemic, 43% of consumers are still prepared to sever ties with a brand after a single poor experience, and this number is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels (74%) as customers’ patience wears thin.”
Customers like myself are afraid to travel and stay in hotels, so companies need to focus on providing exceptional service.
Discover more tips on how to serve diners a 5-star experience on a budget.
Make a good first impression on guests
MGM Resorts began reopening in June. While sales were down over 91%, MGM knew that making guests comfortable had to take top priority. To meet guests' needs, the hotel company has implemented various new safety measures. For example, guests can download an app that unlocks contactless features like mobile payments and a digital room key (Wall Street Journal, 2020).
While first impressions such as a non-contact arrival can create help immediately reassure guests on their travel decision, room cleanliness is equally important. The Beverly Hills Hotel uses a Robot named Kennedy to enhance cleaning in their hotel rooms. After an employee cleans, Kennedy enters the room. The robot kills germs by flashing ultraviolet lights throughout the space (ABC News, 2020). As a guest, I would feel more reassured with my travel decision if I knew that the company was using high-tech cleaning measures.
Enhance your hotel’s dining options
First impressions and increased sanitation measures are crucial to making guests’ hotel experience pleasant. However, the last piece of the puzzle is dining. There are ample opportunities available to hotels to make the dining experience stand out.
A survey conducted by Criton, a hotel app development platform, found that 47% of individuals surveyed would be more likely to order room service through an app. Furthermore, the survey found that “48% would be more likely to go to the hotel restaurant if the hotel would give them the option of ordering food via an app.”
Bbot is the perfect hotel solution. Guests get the convenience of ordering, contact-free, from their mobile device without downloading an app.
Pool/Beachside Bars
Customers could order, pay, and tip directly from their mobile device (no app needed!) their favorite poolside snacks and drinks from the comfort of their lounge chair, without the hassle of standing in line. Guests are notified when their order is ready, so they can spend their vacation relaxing and not standing in lines. Hotels could even deliver drinks directly to guests.
Room Service
After a day of traveling, your hungry guest gets settled into their hotel room. They glance at the hotel’s restaurant menu by their hotel room phone. Your guest spots a delicious flatbread and decides to call in their order. After five minutes of trying to connect to someone from the restaurant, the guest gives up. Having the ability to order, pay, and tip directly on a mobile device will save your guests time ordering and offer a level of convenience for all parties involved. The level of ease will entice guests to order from your hotel, increasing revenue.
Hotel Restaurants
I have found the comfort of hotel restaurants attractive as you can satisfy your hunger without leaving the hotel. However, the wait is often long, so if a guest wants to order a meal quickly during a business conference break or before heading to the beach, the long wait can be inconvenient. Bbot cuts out the time it takes for a server to take a guest's order. A guest needs to place an order from their mobile device, and their check gets sent right back to the kitchen. Contactless ordering solutions with Bbot are convenient at hotel restaurants, poolside bars, and room service.
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