Introduction.
This article explains the new trends emerging in tourism after the covid pandemic. It’s focus is on innovations in hotels such as integrading technologies, innovations and new trends. I find this article intresting because it gives understanding to the constant evolving of technology, trends and how you must innovate to remain relevant in this industry.
Findings
This article has many great examples on diffirent innovations and trends. The article found that after covid people appreciate more sustainable, one of a kind experiences. These could include unique hotel accomoditations, programs and hotel desings. I have two examples for this.
First is a hotel that is being desinged in Qatar that should be ready to open in 2025. It is a floating hotel that uses a dynamic positionign system to stay in place while it passively captures energy form the natural water currents. It also collects wind energy using turbines hidden in it’s desing.
Second is a hotel The Mandarin Oriental Geneva which offers a program where they study your sleep. The hotel offers transportation to a local clinic where you also visit after your nigth to evaluate the effects on your sleep. They offer you a vip suite and access to a gym, spa and a sauna. They also offer herbal teas and pillows with herbal scents and a credit to their restaurant and room service. After their stay the guest will recieve a report and a diagnostic of their sleep. The purpose of this is to offer an essetial health service in a luxury package.
They also pointed out the importance of digital companions or apps. The report only mentioned apps related to health such as a health passport app. These were a bigger trend in recent years just after covid restrictions had been lifted. Still the relevance of apps and websites is more important than ever especially with younger adults who appreciate the convenience. For some older generations diffirent apps and websites migth prove challenging it is important to also provide services in other platforms.
The use of robots was also mentioned in the article. Some hotels and restaurants already use serving robots along regular staff. This is a topic that is somewhat controversial. Employees fear that they are losing jobs and income. But I don’t think it is yet realistic to make a fully autonomous workforce since robots are expensive and need to be maintained by specialists and if they break down it could pose bigger problems.
One example is a serving robot in a Californian hotel Trio that could deliver wine, snacks, towels and other essentials to guests rooms. Such robots reduce the physical interaction between employees and guests which is important during a pandemic. It could also reduce the workload of employees if they face understaffing or busy shifts.
Other type of a robot has been developed by LG to disinfect rooms in high traffic areas such as schools, restaurants or hotels. It would reduce the risk of spreading diseases between humans. It could be a valuable addittion to any business where lots of people go daily.
Conclusion
The world constantly changes around us with new trends and technologies. We must adapt to these changes to remain relevant in todays world. After covid the needs and wants of travellers have changed. Today people appreciate more unique, sustainable and safe experiences in their travels. This has especially been enhanced by the precense of social media.
The efforts of Mandarin Oriental Geneva hotel’s sleeping program and the Qatar’s new hotel prove that companies take advantage of these emerging trends. Also the use of robots by Trio hotel are a great example how the use of robotics can be a worthwhile effort and appreciated by younger generations along with apps. These efforts with these companies above are great examples how important it is to evolve.