Guests are becoming more demanding when it comes to connectivity at hotels. Technological innovation has not gone unnoticed by the hotel industry, which is steadily adopting trends such as social media, customization, sales channel optimization, mobile apps, videoconferencing, Wi-Fi services and customer loyalty programs. What do these services have in common? They require adequate infrastructure to be implemented.
To stay competitive, hotels are increasingly realizing that they must meet guests’ connectivity requirements, since this is a deciding factor for many when choosing where to stay. Nowadays, 24/7 connectivity is essential either for personal or professional reasons. Surveys of various hotels show that Internet connectivity is the top priority for 97.4% of guests.
In addition, the productivity of hotel employees is considerably boosted by a secure and reliable wireless network, since they can use mobile devices to expedite everyday processes (e.g., self-check-in, automated valet parking, communication between employees no matter the location, etc.).
Technology offers an opportunity to improve hotels’ performance and productivity. This technology is within the reach of any establishment. If its managers have the support and know-how of savvy professionals who will not only optimize the technology investment, but also provide the most appropriate tools for management, decision-making and achievement of business targets. Even so, only a small percentage of hotels in our region have gotten the message and invested in technology. There is still a long way to go.
