IoT in Hospitality Going Worldwide: Examples from All over the Globe

The IoT revolution isn’t just a buzzword for a small group of tech people anymore. Technology wave hits all industries, and hotel owners with good business sense recognize IoT trends in hospitality and try to implement them as fast as possible. It’s important to note that IoT for hospitality industry is not only about service automation but also about better guest experiences, creating maintenance schedules based on usage and location-based data combined, and even cost savings. The hospitality industry today is full of smart building management systems because they have already proved their effectiveness and positive effect on guests’ satisfaction and the performance of hotel employees.

One of the best ways to improve the guest experience at hotel properties is by integrating IoT technologies. The Internet of Things (IoT) in hospitality industry can help better manage resources and ensure maximum uptime for hotel equipment. Emerging technologies also help automate the guest room experience to positively influence guest satisfaction. IoT devices in their rooms enable better control of the room settings. These devices also allow guests to store their preferences for future stays. Many hotels already use hospitality IoT solutions to satisfy guest needs, guest requests, and improve service in general, so you can use somebody’s example before starting to implement IoT solutions in your business.

1. The United States

Wynn Las Vegas

When it comes to the IoT, hospitality industry approaches it in quite a creative way, thinking not as much about more cohesive system offerings but about the possible ways of presenting these devices and creating the right impression. Wynn Las Vegas is taking the smart home technology concept one step further, not only providing guests with Bluetooth wireless communication options but giving access to the web and mobile apps, voice control programs, and customized room service.

To create smart rooms, and perfectly connect hotel staff and visitors, hotel executives have installed Amazon Echo voice-controlled speakers in all suites. This technology enables hotel guests to control many different aspects of their room, for the best customer experience. Initially, the hotel integrated the Alexa feature to control lights, turning artificial light off, when natural light is detected coming in order to increase indoor lighting consistency [1]. Then, hotel rooms acquired a feature of smart temperature control, following customer preferences. Other features, which have evolved in course of the Internet of Things integration include personal assistant functions, guest loyalty apps, and digital location-based interactions between the guests and the hotel [1].

How Did it Become Real?

Wynn Las Vegas has been transformed into a smart one creating a smart ecosystem through connected devices. The hotel managed to install Amazon Echo devices in all 4 748 rooms, so using the TV remote interface, guests can ask questions, turn lights on or off, or open curtains [1]. They are also able to ask the smart system to read news and set alarms. With these capabilities, the Internet of Things technology could completely replace concierge services in some hotels. The Amazon Echo device in the Wynn hotel is a nice perk for guests who want to control their rooms’ electronics with their voices.

YOTEL Smart Hotels

Inspired by the comforts of first-class travel, YOTEL smart hotels are intentionally designed around the needs and preferences of their guests. They deliver extraordinary value and experience by incorporating all of the essential elements of luxury hotels into smaller spaces. In addition, recently, the hotel chain assigned its focus to the Internet of Things technology in order to reduce energy consumption, establish predictive maintenance systems, and improve guest satisfaction with stay.

Robotics

Robotics is becoming more and more common in the hotel industry for a bunch of good reasons. First of all, it can simplify work for maintenance personnel and facilitate completing guest requests. At YOTEL Hotel in Atlanta, a robot butler called YO2D2 greets guests and helps with everything from room service to playing music [2]. The robot even offers directions and can use the elevator [2]. The robot can also express different facial expressions, including smiles.

The robot butlers are based on the same models used at other hotels. It can be programmed to perform various tasks, like delivering drinks and food. Also, it can help with luggage storage and can even entertain guests with dance moves while guest rooms are still occupied or not cleaned yet. Yobot, the robotic luggage handler at Yotel New York, is capable of handling 300 items a day [2]. Yobot frees up hotel workers for other duties, saving them time and money.

Self Check-in Kiosks

The Internet of Things technology and IoT devices are not obligatory monitoring sensors and controllers but also software, which simplifies life. YOTEL smart Hotels use automated self-check-in kiosks to streamline the hotel check-in process. The kiosks are designed to resemble the ones you find at an airport, and those, which already became a prototype in hospitality businesses. Guests can simply scan the barcode on their reservation to check in and receive an itemized receipt [2]. Such technology helps to gather customer data for offering personalized experiences through hotel loyalty apps.

Self-check-in kiosks can help cut down on guest wait times and free up hotel employees to focus on more important tasks. They also provide natural user interfaces for upselling additional hotel services, proposing arrival or checkout offers. Yotel’s self-check-in kiosks are available 24 hours a day, so guests don’t need to interact with workers and can solve all their needs using a mobile phone [2]. The self-check-in kiosks function like airport kiosks, but they also offer a robotic luggage concierge that will store your luggage in a locker for you. Besides, hotel kiosks offer multiple languages, so you can use one that best suits your needs.

Self-check-in kiosks are also an excellent way to reduce the costs of hotel overhead. Hotel guests will appreciate the convenience and the speed of check-in. With this technology, hotel staff will be more responsive to guest needs and provide a higher quality of service. It is a great example of how the Internet of Things can be used in the hospitality industry to optimize the speed of providing guests with a service.

2. The United Kingdom

Eccleston Square

The Eccleston Square smart hotel in central London is a family-run luxury boutique hotel. Its traditional building blends modern amenities and traditional style, offering guests the best of both worlds. The hotel features electronically adjustable beds, smart glass walls, and attentive service. Here you can find everything you need for the perfect stay, from free guest Wi-Fi network to world-class beds and smart coffee machines.

Free International Calls

The Eccleston Square smart hotel is one of the most technologically advanced luxury boutique hotels in Europe. Located in London Garden Square, the Eccleston Square smart hotel makes its best to provide guests with exceptional experiences. It offers complimentary wireless Internet access and international phone calls [4]. With rising bandwidth capabilities, guests can use a complimentary smartphone with high-speed internet hot spots in each room and enjoy unlimited free domestic and international calls [4]. This means that guests can use them to chat with friends and family while they’re away from home.

IoT Devices

The hotel also has smart IoT sensors and devices, such as tablets that can be used to order services right to the room or read electronic newspapers. The hotel also has smart TVs built into the bathrooms and hidden behind the bathroom mirrors [4]. The smart hotel utilizes cloud-based technologies and artificial intelligence to provide guests with a unique experience.

World’s Best Beds

Eccleston Square Hotel offers an array of room upgrades including a smart room air conditioning system and even smart beds. The beds are handcrafted in Sweden using traditional methods that date back to the 1800s. Each one features a patented spring system and takes two hundred and fifty hours to make. Each of the beds is electronically adjustable and covered in the finest Italian sheeting and luxury non-allergenic bed linen [4].

Coffee Machines

This smart London hotel features smart coffee machines, which remember guests’ preferences and save energy when are not used. Energy efficiency has become one of the prioritized directions for the hotel industry, so custom energy solutions can be found even in such small devices as coffee machines [4]. Smart appliances also contribute to predictive maintenance planning and recognize hazardous trends, which can lead to breakdowns and unnecessary downtime.

3. Singapore

W-Sentosa Cove

W-Sentosa Cove is an ultra-smart hotel, thanks to its architecture and energy-efficient led lighting. It gives customers the power to select the mood and music, and adjust the lighting to create the perfect ambiance using the same guest loyalty apps. This hotel also has a built-in voice assistant, which responds to commands in real-time.

Smart Lighting

Within a smart energy management system, W-Sentosa Cove managed to significantly reduce energy consumption and energy costs using a smart lighting system. It is based on occupancy sensors data and other information from IoT devices. When networked devices communicate with each other, they can trigger such events as shutting down the lighting or turning it on all around the hotel for optimized energy management [3]. Appropriate maintenance personnel, in turn, is responsible for changing light bulbs on time and having energy services settled in advance.

Voice Assistant Technology

Voice assistant technology is one more technology used in W-Sentosa Cove, in each guest room to provide visitors with instant information about the area and hotel. Guests are also able to control their room’s temperature and lighting using their voices [3]. Using voice technology can also help hoteliers market their upcoming events.

What Can TEKTELIC Offer for World Hospitality?

Whether you’re a world-class hotelier or a home-based restaurateur, TEKTELIC has the right solution for your needs. Our IoT sensors and gateways are designed for both indoor and outdoor use and offer superior performance and reliability. Our devices can help you set up effective energy management, improve guest experiences, and facilitate many routine processes.

SPARROW

TEKTELIC SPARROW is a low-power, long-range asset tracking device that makes managing hotel equipment and facilities easy. Its unique combination of LoRaWAN and Bluetooth Low Energy technology allows for full-property coverage and always-on connectivity. The solution also allows hotel workers to update the location of all assets with just a few clicks. It has 5 years of battery life and is easily integrated into LoRaWAN networks, so it can become a part of your already created ecosystem easily.

TEMPO

TEMPO Meeting Room Booking Solution is AN end-to-end solution for monitoring room occupancy, displaying available rooms, and coordinating room bookings. It is composed of a VIVID sensor, a KONA Micro IoT gateway, and a TEMPO display tablet. Using the solution, a hotel can become more organized, more efficient, and more hospitable. It has natural technology interface and can be easily used by existing staff, guests of the facility, or event managers.

ORCA

TEKTELIC ORCA being designed for industrial use is a great option for hospitality as well. In this business, hotels face the need to track food supplies or equipment pieces, so they need to have a device, which allows real-time tracking for these purposes. TEKTELIC ORCA offers innovative geolocation solutions for hotels and other hospitality facilities. The solution is IP67 certified and offers real-time satellite location tracking, BLE connectivity, and LoRaWAN-based tracking for reliable communication. Moreover, it is scalable, with a unique architecture that allows a single device to support multiple types of business. The device also supports various types of data storage and is designed to operate in harsh environments.

VIVID

TEKTELIC provides easy-to-use solutions and devices for the hospitality industry, such as VIVID, which can help hotels monitor various features remotely. For instance, the sensor can monitor the temperature, humidity, and light in a room and detect leaks or motion. It can also monitor the position of doors and windows, which can be especially useful in emergency situations. By integrating VIVID into the hotel industry, hoteliers can increase customer satisfaction and improve their services.

Hoteliers can use it to track occupancy and guest movement between different locations. This can be helpful in optimizing cleaning schedules and preventing the overbooking of meeting rooms. VIVID has a variety of use cases in general and will definitely bring benefits to your hotel.

Summing up

Many hotel brands are already testing smart room technology. Some have even installed robots and voice assistance systems in their hotel rooms while other hotels experimenting with smart room automation. Smart hotels can greatly benefit from a digital check-in and check-out process as well, which is proven by many hotels around the world. Guests can check in and check out using their mobile devices, or use self-service stations. Robotic luggage handlers, in turn, free up hotel staff to handle other duties and save the hotel money.

Hotels are taking advantage of this new technology, and are right doing it. So, if you want to be among those business actors in hospitality, who are associated with smart technology, who saves money, and who is way more profitable than your counterparts, it’s time to integrate IoT into your business. If you need any further help or consultation on this topic, feel free to contact our sales team.

1. Alexa and Wynn analysis. (2020). Wynn Case Study. Retrieved 6 September 2022, from https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/alexa/alexa-for-hospitality/wynncase
2. Kim, J., & Han, H. (2020). Hotel of the future: exploring the attributes of a smart hotel adopting a mixed-methods approach. Journal Of Travel &Amp; Tourism Marketing, 37(7), 804-822. doi: 10.1080/10548408.2020.1835788
3. Richard, M. (2017). Wired Up: The Most High-tech Hotels in Asia | Travel | The Manual. Retrieved 6 September 2022, from https://www.themanual.com/travel/asia-high-tech-hotels/
4. Çakar, K., & Aykol, Ş. (2019). Innovative service experiences of travellers visiting high-tech hotels: The case of Eccleston Square Hotel, London. Turizam, 23(3), 120-132. doi: 10.5937/turizam23-22009