One of the few things almost everyone agrees with is this: The Internet has changed the way business gets done. And it’s certainly true in the hospitality industry.
On-line reservation systems have been around for a long time. More recently, sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp have changed the way customers gather information and make decisions about travel. Now there’s a new concept people are referring to as the “Internet of Things” or IoT.
IoT is all about collecting information from sensors, devices and other sources and using that information intelligently. For an idea about how this is being used in the Hospitality industry, click here.
In the Hospitality industry, it’s all about improving the customer experience and IoT can be a great way to do that. Imagine letting a resort customer order food by the pool using their tablet. Or being able to recognize when they are coming back to the room and adjusting the temperature accordingly. And why make them carry a room key when they can use their phone?
We are rapidly entering a period where the technology for these types of services is readily available. The limiting factor will be the industry’s ability to understand the services demanded by their customers, design those services and effectively implement them.
What kind of services would your customers want? We welcome your comments below.