TFE Hotels, whose brands include Adina, Medina, Vibe and Travelodge hotels, held an innovation lab at TEDxSydney recently to uncover the key needs of the modern day traveller to help shape the hotel of 2020, according to hospitalitynet.org
“We asked the genius minds at TEDxSydney to help us design the hotel of the future during a workshop at Sydney Opera House and the responses were outstanding, intelligent, thought provoking and at times really surprising,” says Tammy Marshall, Chief Operating Officer, TFE Hotels.
“The hotel of the year 2020 will be one where connectivity, social interaction, comfort, wellbeing and safety are taken to the next level. The key themes that emerged from the workshop were that people want travel experiences that allow them more time — time to themselves and time with their loved ones or business contacts — and they want more meaningful connections,” she says.
Here’s what the hotel of the future will look like according to TFE Hotels:
Goodbye to generic
This is a key trend and it’s not going to go out of fashion. Australia’s sophisticated traveller wants to move away from generic travel experiences, and to have everything from their booking confirmation and itinerary, to their room and hotel amenities to be tailored to their specific tastes. They also want to get to know the local area and they want the hotel to help them connect with the destination.
Travel without tantrums
How hotels can do more to help families travelling with children was a hot topic. From helping parents with packing their ‘digital suitcase’ to on-premise child-friendly facilities that go beyond what’s offered today and ease parents’ anxieties will all play a part in the hotel of the future.
TFE meets Tinder
Tinder was recently cited as the only App you need to download before a trip abroad.
Interestingly, whether it be to network, date or just share a drink and discussion, many asked the question as to what hotels can do to encourage interaction with other guests, as well as the local community, if single or travelling solo.
While many hotels, such as Vibe and Adina, offered communal areas to work and relax, it appears that people want more in terms of making introductions.
Personalisation
There was a resounding call for hotels all around the world to “know” their guests better, particularly when a repeat guest comes back weekly or monthly for years on end, and they have to reintroduce themselves, their preferences, their travel habits every time. This was the greatest cause of frustration across the board.
Technology
There was also an overwhelming call for better technology — in two respects: firstly technology that allows more ease of the hotel experience, from booking to check-in and check-out, and secondly technology that allows guests a better ability to use their devices from the moment they arrive and in all areas of the hotel and outside of the hotel.
This is not about replacing human connection, it is about making the hotel experience much more seamless so that hotel staff are better able to interact with them in meaningful ways and act on their needs.
Read more here.
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