When running a hotel the number one rule is to ensure your customer is always at the forefront of your mind. However, a close second would be to ensure you’re always thinking ahead when it comes to running your hotel.
Just recently, Premier Inn launched its new micro hotel rooms. At just 8.5 square metres, these tiny rooms offer tiny prices and are supposedly great for those on a one-night stops. However, the verdict is still out on them.
When it comes to it though, Premier Inn have seen a place where they can satisfy the customer, and decided to run with it. But, while you continue to add irons, under counter fridges and maybe even a trouser press to a room, it could be time to think a little smarter. Maybe a smart hotel room is the way to go.
What is a Smart Room?
Well, just like our homes and offices are becoming smarter due to technological advances, a smart room is the same. This would be done through using the most of Internet of Things through smart everyday devices.
This, of course, is extremely important in the modern age, and helps to please those visiting your hotel. But, how will it make them smart? Here are four ways to make a hotel room smart for the future.
Voice Control
This is something that’s been introduced to our homes through the likes of Amazon’s Alexa. However, by incorporating it into a hotel room, it could really assist your visitors. This would allow them to turn on lights upon entering a room, be asked to call down to reception, discover the time and even set alarms for a morning wake-up call.
Interactive Maps
Usually, when people are staying with you, they’ll want to go an explore the surrounding areas. Because of this, you’ve probably fallen into the trap of printed maps that have since become extremely outdated. However, with the introduction of interactive wall maps, it’ll allow your guests to see what’s around, and how long it takes to walk places.
Smart Controls
Everything from the heating, air conditioning and curtains could be operated by smart controls. This is perfect as it’ll allow guests to do it from their phones or tablets with ease. You could even create an app to assist with this, before placing tablets in each room to help them control everything.
Entertainment
This isn’t just smart, but personalised. This can be done by introducing everything from Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime and Apple Music into rooms, which will allow guests to log-in to their own personalised accounts rather than watching what’s on terrestrial TV (where you don’t need worry about your TV aerial problems) or listening to what’s on the radio.
As you can see, there are many ways to make a room smart, and they aren’t all that difficult. Even if you only introduce one or two of these, it’s a step towards offering your guests something they’ve never seen before, and should guarantee their return.
