By Noah 
You enter a hotel and there is no one to greet you. You walk through the corridor, enter reception, and print your own hotel room receipt. As you walk through the hotel lobby, you realize that a small robot is loading your luggage. When you enter the room, your luggage is all sorted and the room is ready.
This is a paradise for introverts. But in reality, it is a staff-less hotel in action. Everything is automated, run by robots, and visitors get to experience the future of hospitality.
For most people, this is a far-fetched idea that will never come to life. However, in countries like China, Japan, and most parts of Europe these smart and automated hotels are quite common. Although not fully staffed, visitors can still require limited interaction with humans.
So, is going staff-less the new trend? Are we going to see more tech trends within the hospitality industry in the future?
Keep reading as we explore some of the tech trends that will dominate the hospitality industry in a few years.
Virtual Reality Tours
Online hotel bookings are becoming a norm. Nearly every traveler is aware that hotels charge more when you book a room on the same day. On the contrary, when you book accommodation in advance, you get a better deal and you might even end up saving some money.
However, online booking also means risking it all. You can simply walk into a five-star hotel, only to figure out it was a scam. I know, most of us have experienced online shopping and booking fraud at least once.
Now, you do not have to worry about all this because hotels are now offering virtual reality tours. You can simply book any hotel, get a room tour, check amenities, track reviews, and ask for changes without visiting the destination.
The best thing is that you can do all this from the comfort of your home with the power of a good and reliable internet connection like Cox. If you are on the hunt for an affordable internet connection, you can also check Cox Internet Plans. You also get Cox Security Suite Plus, which is a great way to stay safe from cyber threats in an ever-online world.
Automated Smart Kitchen
Handling the kitchen is one of the most challenging jobs on the planet. Now, I know you might think I am exaggerating, but when you are working in a business setting, handling multiple time-sensitive orders and satisfying different palates, things can easily become daunting.
Moreover, most kitchens in hotels have 24/7 service hours, which means chefs have to work around the clock and adjust their sleep schedule accordingly.
To resolve these issues, hotels have started working on smart and automated kitchens. These kitchens are partially automated, ensuring that food is prepared within optimum time as per the requirement of the guest.
With the help of a smart kitchen, hotel management is trying to reduce the risk of fire-related incidents. Moreover, it also helps in reducing food waste by keeping track of the kitchen supplies and their expiry dates.
Gamification of Traveling
Free miles, free minutes, free points, and upgrade points are niche flexes that only an avid traveler can value.
So, what exactly are all these things?
Well, if you travel a lot, stay in the same hotel, or enjoy food at a particular reference, you can save a lot of money with point cards.
For instance, if you live in the US but like to visit Korea for business meetings every month, you might end up earning a few credit points for every visit. Most airlines already offer free miles to regular travelers. Similarly, hotels also offer free upgrades and credit points to regular visitors.
This point system is designed on the gaming principles. Through the point system, booking companies, travel adjustments, airlines, and hotels try to motivate travelers to plan their next trip, even when they are on a budget.
Room Customization
You booked a hotel room, but don’t like the lighting aesthetic.
Do you think you can change it? I know you are probably thinking this is impossible.
Just a few years ago, this was indeed impossible. However, thanks to technology, customers can enjoy fully customized rooms. Most of the hotels today have fully automated buildings so clients can personalize everything according to their taste.
A simple example of room customization is the mood lighting, temperature, and layout. Now, with the help of smart appliances guests can easily change or schedule temperature, light intensity, layout, etc.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
Traveling is known to be an expensive hobby. Most people believe that you need to have a lot of money, extra time, and good health to enjoy traveling. This is the reason people with special needs are not properly cared for within the hospitality industry.
However, with the advancement in technology, things are finally changing. Now more countries are trying to make public places accessible for all. Most hotels have wheelchair parking spots, wheelchair ramps, GPS navigation as well as voice-guided tools, so anyone can enjoy their stay regardless of their physical limitations.
These above-mentioned tech trends are just to name a few. The hospitality industry is changing at a very fast speed and it is expected that in just a few more years, so more people will be able to enjoy affordable traveling.