Do you prefer to use travel shampoos and individually wrapped soaps? Do you look forward to using a bathtub or a walk-in shower? Do you want electronic check-in that automatically opens your hotel room, or do you prefer a friendly greeting from the front desk? Here are six trends that are shaking up the hospitality industry, and how they’ll affect the different generations.
Increased Fees
Guests will be surprised to see increased fees on their hotel bill. Aside from the resort and amenities fees, guests will see a housekeeping surcharge and a fee for storing their luggage in the hotel lobby. Total fees and surcharges for hotel stays have increased from $1.7 billion in 2010 to $1.8 billion in 2011, according to research discovered from Bjorn Hanson, dean of New York University. Guests should ask if any fees will be added onto the bill the moment that they book a room. When booking a room online, guests are advised to read the listing to see what else is added into the rate aside from the taxes.
Lobbies Used as Social Hubs
Since charging stations, cocktail and coffee bars, and free Internet service have been added to hotel lobbies, they’re transforming into social hubs. Baby Boomers may view the hotel lobby as a place to meet before going to a certain location. Millennials, on the other hand, will prefer to hang out in the hotel lobby as they decide how they’re going to spend their evening. They may check e-mail or surf the Internet as they wait for their group or try out the snacks and drinks that are available from the lobby bar.
No More Bathtubs
When guests are booking a suite, they shouldn’t expect to see a grand bathtub. Most new hotel chains are offering walk-in showers. Research has proven that travelers prefer to shower than take a bath, but some families like having a tub as well as a shower. Guests who are traveling with small children should call ahead to ensure their hotel room has a bathtub.
Pump Dispensers
While tubs are disappearing, the resurgence of pump dispensers in hotel bathrooms has received mixed responses. Guests love receiving the small bottles of shampoo and individually wrapped soaps. They’ve been a popular amenity for decades.
Guests who need to use more shampoo than what comes in the tiny containers can pump as much as they want from a dispenser. There’s no need to ask concierge in the middle of the night for more bottles of shampoo. The incorporation of pump dispensers means fewer plastic throwaways in the oceans and lakes. Hotels that switched over to pump dispensers often keep complimentary travel shampoo bottles and wrapped soaps upon request at the front desk.
Electronic Check-In
There’s no longer a need to wait in line at the front desk to check in. Some hotel chains are offering kiosks and programs that allow guests to check in on their own. Guests receive a keycard that uses radio-frequency identification technology. On the day of arrival, a text message is sent to the guest’s smartphone with the room number. The guest bypasses the front desk to their room, and the keycard automatically opens the door.
Electronic check-in technology is slowly being embraced by the hospitality industry. As it becomes more popular, hotels will still want concierge and front desk staff available to welcome guests, answer questions, and provide other services. This type of service still caters to the older generation who prefers human interaction to technology.
Locavore Options
The locavore diet has rolled over to the hospitality industry. The locavore diet mainly consists of ethically or locally sourced food. It has become one of the most popular diets in the hotel industry, especially at high-class restaurants where chefs grow their own herbs and vegetables. Some even have their own beehives.
Some hotel chains have incorporated the use of local farmers markets where bread, fresh produce, and other healthy options are sold by farmers and other vendors. This allows guests to get out of their rooms and mingle with other guests. It makes them feel as if they’re part of the neighborhood. Locavore options such as these make guests feel more like locals.
These trends have been compiled by Rakesh Sarna, who is a leader in the hotel industry. He has over 38 years of experience and has gained knowledge from various parts of the world. Rakesh Sarna is known for being a clear thinker and a motivational leader. He helped create an environment that allows hotels to develop and achieve their mission.
