Hotels of Future

Hospitality industry has to keep pace with the ever-changing craving and yearning for innovative experiences of tourists and there has been, thus, a continuous transformation in the services offered by the industry. There have been revolutionary changes in the working of the industry, over the years. With advancement in technology and Al Artificial Intelligence), hotels have been able to upgrade and offer new experiences to their guests. The constant and incessant changes being incorporated in the working of the hospitality industry is going to result in various avant-garde changes being integrated in almost all departments of hotels of the future. Interactive hotel rooms with digitally enhanced services are, today, providing a new level of luxury and convenience to the travelers. Ashok Malkani tries to fathom the changes that are likely to take place not only in hotel operations but also in their appearance, in coming decade or so.

The hotel industry is much more than just providing accommodation. It has to be an overall innovative experience and thus the guests, in the future, would expect much more than just lodging. A decade from now the travelers would expect that places they have selected for staying are not only attractive and comfortable but also offer an array of other innovative experiences.

When the travelers step into a hotel, 1015 years from today, it will be, according to stalwarts of the industry, an experience! It is believed that there would be interactive walls and spaces, which would react to guests' movements, in place of traditional wall-art. It is predicted that there would also be an interactive wall space that would function as an information desk, informing the tourists about attractions, restaurants and activities in the surrounding areas. Yes, the hotels of tomorrow would offer much more than just bed and breakfast. They would offer guests ground-breaking, original experiences as compared to today's hotels.

There are constant changes taking place in the hospitality industry for making the guests' stay a memorable one. And, a decade from now, there would be changes galore! Vipul Mohan, General Manager, Radisson Resort Goa Baga, contemplating on the future hotels, declares, "Technology has simplified many aspects of life, and when it comes to hospitality services, its influence is moving toward greater digital expectations. All guests have various expectations from a hotel."

He elaborates, "Soon there will be screens that can welcome guests by name when they approach them in the hotel lobby by using data from your mobile phones which already exists - registered through the hotel's Wi-Fi. These screens will then complete an automatic check-in process through facial recognition and your room key will be digitally downloaded to your mobile phone. App/onphone access to all services would be offered."