The Hotel industry is no longer the province of humans.
Artificial Intelligence has infiltrated every aspect of the hotel industry, so much so that it is walking hand-in-hand with humans, enriching the guest experience every step of the way.
The result: AI has introduced quite a lot of luxury and comfort that was previously unthinkable.
How AI is Revolutionizing the Hotel Industry
To put things more concretely about AI’s influence in the hotel industry, let’s take a look at a few stats and facts:
As per Hotel Tech Report 2024 :
- 70% of guests prefer chatbots for simple queries; however, they want humans to intervene in complex issues.
- Chatbots are preferred over humans specifically for three reasons: 1) Wifi password, 2) wake up calls, and 3) checking hotel facility operational hours.
- 58% of guests felt that AI improves hotel booking and stay experiences.
Yes, AI and the hotel industry have become mutually interdependent now. Here are 6 AI Trends that are storming the hotel space like never before:
AI concierges
A good hotel has a concierge by the doorstep who helps guests with their luggage and takes care of almost all their personal needs, such as finding the best saloon in town, making reservations, and so on. Simply put, hotels can not do without concierges.
Now, imagine an AI taking over the role of a concierge. Not just picking up and dropping luggage, it would perform many things with loads of panache and care, such as making personalized recommendations, answering queries, and so much more.
4 Benefits of Using AI concierges in Hotel Industry:
Around-the-clock Availability: Unlike humans, AI concierges are always at your beck-and-call, that is, around the clock, ensuring that guests get help when required.
Tailored Recommendations: AI analyzes massive amounts of data to offer personalized recommendations to guests for dining, activities, and other local attractions.
Multiple language support: AI concierges are programmed to communicate in several languages, serving guests regardless of their country of residence.
Quick Problem Solving: AI can quickly address guest queries, mitigate issues, and enhance guest satisfaction.
Radisson Blu Edwardian in London and Manchester uses an AI concierge called Edward to attend to guests, order room service, and answer their queries 24/7.
Take advantage of chatbots to provide consistent guest experiences and free up some time for front desk staff.
2. AI-Driven Hyperdynamic Pricing
For many hoteliers and revenue managers, leveraging AI-driven hyperdynamic pricing strategies helps them stay afloat even during lean periods. Markets fluctuate, and travel demands change, so adapting hyperdynamic pricing strategies helps hotels capture business quickly.
When it comes to Hyperdynamic pricing, AI booking engines run through social media posts, user data, and even world news to fix new prices and thus maximize the earning potential.
For example, if an event is happening in a hotel nearby, artificial intelligence software will increase/decrease prices in keeping with the demand.
AI Applications in Hyperdynamic Pricing for Hotels :
Dynamic Pricing Engines: AI-powered pricing engines consider real-time demand, competitor pricing, and time of year to determine room rates.
Personalized Pricing: AI creates personalized pricing offers for customers based on their preferences and booking history.
Revenue Management: AI-powered revenue management systems help hotels make pricing decisions to maximize revenue and minimize costs.
Competitive Intelligence Platforms: AI-powered competitive intelligence platforms help hotels stay ahead of industry trends, customer behavior, and competitor strategies.
AI-enabled hyperdynamic pricing strategies have been a game-changer for the hotel industry. By dissecting colossal amounts of data and adjusting prices in accordance with demand, hotels maximize occupancy and revenue and, more importantly, stay competitive in fluctuating markets.
3. AI Group Booking Software
Group booking software helps hotels and other accommodations sell their rooms in bulk to tour operators, event groups, corporate groups, etc.
5 Benefits of Using AI Group Booking Software in Hotel Industry
Bulk bookings: Organizers can make bulk bookings to negotiate better rates.
Price comparison: Certain software allows bookers to compare prices from different hoteliers.
Partnerships with travel agencies: Certain software works alongside travel agencies to help guests get better rates.
Inventory management: Certain software allows hotels to manage their inventory and distribution including opening and closing dates of the inventory.
Personalized itineraries: Certain software are equipped to offer tailored itineraries for guests, which include alerts and accommodations, among other things.
Long story short, group booking software makes the group reservation process more accessible, enhances customer experience, and accelerates revenue generation.
4. AI Chatbots
Just like other AI tools, chatbots have totally transformed the hotel industry; for instance, they have automated the booking process, offer 24/7 customer service, and, more than anything, tackle issues during peak times, especially when hotels face staff crunch during season times.
9 Benefits of leveraging Chatbots in the Hotel industry:
Better customer experience: AI chatbots can offer around-the-clock customer support when it comes to information about the hotel, booking process, and local area, among other customer concerns.
Large direct bookings: Chatbots increase direct bookings by nearly 30%.
Tailored experiences: Chatbots skim databases to provide personalized recommendations and offers to customers.
Less Stress: Chatbots are trained to take on repetitive tasks, freeing time for staff members to focus on their core activities.
Better conversion rates: Chatbots are said to offer accurate and personalized responses to customer queries, increasing conversion rates by 30%.
Cross-selling and up-selling: Chatbots suggest additional amenities and upgrades to increase revenue.
Communication in multiple languages: Chatbots engage guests in various languages, an alternative to human translators.
Feedback collection: Chatbots are good at collecting feedback from guests about their stay at the hotel.
Forecasting: AI platforms forecast staff requirements during busy periods.
AI chatbots have taken the hotel industry by storm by automating tasks, offering 24/7 customer support, and offering personalized experiences. These benefits have led to
increased bookings, higher conversion rates, and enhanced operational efficiency.
5. Robots
Robots are steadily gaining popularity in the hospitality industry. They are being used more and more to check in guests, respond to queries, deliver room service, and much, much more.
The global market for hospitality robots is projected to be worth $2.3 billion by 2031. Several hotel chains and resorts are investing in robotic solutions to stay competitive.
In the wake of the rising demand for robots, different types of robots that have entered the hospitality market include:
Concierge robots: As already mentioned, concierge robots greet guests at the doorstep, offer information, and help with the check-in/check-out process.
Room service robots: These robots deliver food and beverages to guest rooms.
Roomy, the Robot, escorts guests to their rooms and helps them navigate throughout the hotel.
Cleaning Robots: Undertake cleaning tasks such as vacuuming and mopping floors.
Entertainment robots: Offers interactive and entertaining experiences for guests.
8 Benefits of using Robots in the hotel industry:
Futuristic brand image: A robot delivering food and beverages can excite the guests, thus creating a futuristic brand image.
Task Automation: Robots can take over repetitive, manual tasks, thus offering a better guest experience and freeing up time for the staff to take care of more crucial things.
Cut costs: Costs on hiring additional staff to perform tedious tasks can be cut down.
Increase productivity: Robots work 24/7 without getting tired or burned out.
Improve sustainability: Robots can help with waste reduction.
Provide multilingual capabilities: Robots are programmed to speak different languages and even make out accents.
Perform different tasks: Robots can perform various tasks, such as checking guests in and out, carrying luggage, delivering room service, cleaning, disinfecting, and more.
Monitoring and maintaining equipment: Robots can monitor and maintain Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning systems.
Robots’ flexibility and ability to perform a wide range of tasks have made them valuable assets for hotels and resorts. If you plan to introduce robots to your hotel, consult robotics companies registered with GoodFirms to get a better understanding of the investment involved.
6. AI-Powered Hiring Process
Speeding up the employment process is also one of AI’s most significant achievements in the hospitality industry. AI-powered systems are quick at looking through thousands of resumes and narrowing down the best candidates based on predetermined criteria. This helps HR staff focus on suitable candidates by eliminating those who do not meet the requirements.
More importantly, this machine-enabled effectiveness lowers, if not eliminates, biases and ensures an impartial selection process.
Further, AI tools have proven themselves useful for conducting first-round interviews. By automating tasks at the initial stages, HR teams can speed up the hiring process and reduce administrative tasks, enhancing overall recruitment efficiency.
6 Benefits of Using AI in Recruitment
Faster recruitment: The HR guys believe (and correctly so) that sourcing and screening of candidates can be 100% automated using AI-driven tools and, thus quickening the recruitment process.
Reduces Hiring Cost: Recruiters are able to source top candidates from fewer job postings with AI, reducing the employer spend on different job boards to fetch applications from top talent. Plus, reduces the possibility of mis-hiring, increasing retention rates, instead.
Thorough CV evaluation: Candidates tend to hack their CV with keywords and all. AI looks over and above keywords and thoroughly evaluates the CV as whole to finalize the candidates for a particular position. In short, the AI ensures that no eligible AI candidate loses out on an opening because of a lack of keyword awareness.
Eliminates Human Biases: AI narrows down best candidates based on skills and experiences rather than on human emotions, thus eliminating human biases in turn.
Zero Candidate Ghosting: Candidate engagement isn’t an easy process for the recruiter, specifically if the company is hiring in large numbers. When an AI chatbot is put in place, you can have regular emailing schedules, and even tackle repetitive questions. Regular emailing can help candidates track their candidature status with the employer. Thus, AI enables you to bid farewell to ghosting.
Employer Branding: Leveraging AI for recruitment means reduced time and costs and an overall better experience for candidates, which builds a positive reputation in the market for the employer as a progressive company.
Conclusion:
It won’t be an exaggeration to say that AI is sweeping the hotel industry. Chatbots, robots, hyperdynamic pricing, and AI recruitment tools have all enhanced efficiency, reduced costs, and delivered personalized service. Hoteliers who take advantage of these tools will stay competitive and responsive to evolving guest preferences; if not, the path ahead could be challenging for them.
Author bio: Jennifer Warren is a resident wordsmith @ GoodFirms – a review and rating agency that offers a level playing field to mobile app businesses of all sizes. She is a connoisseur of deep work and an addictive reader who believes in the magic of deeply researched posts to drive site traffic and conversions.