what's (really) happening in hotel tech now?

July 25, 2024 | Read Online

Hotel Tech Trends Today: What You Need To Know

with Jordan Hollander, Co-Founder of Hotel Tech Report

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Are you curious about what's going on with hotel technology now?

I am. Technology is key for empowering your teams and delighting your guests - but it changes so quickly. To give us the inside scoop of what’s (really) going on in this area I’m delighted to have Jordan Hollander, co-founder of Hotel Tech Report, join us today.

Hotel Tech Trends Today

Today, Jordan Hollander, co-founder of Hotel Tech Report, joins us to share why technology matters today (more than ever), how the way hoteliers are buying tech is changing, how to implement technology successfully - and much more.

Hotel Tech in 2024: Insider Secrets Revealed

You can listen to us here on the podcast, and I’ve summarized a few of my top takeaways below.

Why tech matters to hoteliers today

"Interest rates are super high, which means your costs are going up. Your labor costs are going up; inflation is impacting your cost of goods, FF&E, and other areas. You’re probably thinking, ‘What do I do to improve my NOI?’ There's not that much you can do outside of trying to rearrange your processes or your people. And the only way you could do that is by having technology that allows you to bring in new people more efficiently or to reorient those people."

Jordan Hollander

Takeaway: Technology is crucial to fighting rising costs and improving NOI.

Put this in action:

Invest in automation tools for key touchpoints such as check-in, check-out, and guest services to reduce labor costs and improve efficiency.
Utilize data analytics to monitor and manage expenses related to energy, maintenance, and other operational areas.
Implement training programs for your teams to effectively use technology, maximizing the benefits.
Explore technology solutions that enhance guest experience and satisfaction, driving higher revenue and repeat business.

How the buying process is changing

Coming off the HITEC tradeshow, Jordan has a hot take:

Hotel tech trade shows are not only a waste of time; they’re dangerous.

2 reasons why: 1) It’s an ineffective way to evaluate software - do you seriously…

www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7222273383395155970/?actorCompanyId=76126326

What’s behind this?

"Hotel [software] buyers are becoming more sophisticated. They're doing more diligence. We're also seeing a big decentralization. Why would someone who's a centralized tech person make a marketing or revenue management or sales decision? Those [technology] decisions are getting decentralized, and the buyers are becoming more sophisticated because information is just easier to access."

Jordan Hollander

Takeaway: The buying process for hotel technology is evolving. Functional leaders are choosing the best technology solutions for their specific needs instead of centralized decision-making like in the past.

Put this in action:

Encourage team involvement in the tech-buying process by empowering department heads to research and recommend solutions.
Leverage online platforms like Hotel Tech Report to gather unbiased reviews and detailed information about potential technology partners.
Keep learning - listen to podcasts like our technology series to stay updated on the latest trends and innovations.
Pilot new technologies in smaller settings before full-scale implementation to ensure they meet your needs and integrate well with existing systems.

Tips for successful tech implementation

Jordan talked about how Strawberry implements technology as an example of doing this well:

"If it works on an 800-room property for housekeeping and operations management, then it's going to work for the rest of [the] portfolio. They do a pilot. They set up goals and KPIs ahead of the pilot. At the end of that pilot, they know whether it's something that they want to explore and whether they want to try different solutions on top of that."

Jordan Hollander

Takeaway: Successful implementation of new technology involves piloting the solution, setting clear goals and KPIs, and evaluating its performance before a full rollout.

Put this in action:

Run pilot programs for new technology implementations in a few hotels (or departments) to test effectiveness and identify any issues.
Define clear KPIs and objectives for the pilot program to measure success and gather actionable insights.
Gather feedback from staff involved in the pilot to understand their experiences and potential improvements.
Create a detailed rollout plan based on the pilot's outcomes, including training, support, and a phased implementation schedule to ensure a smooth transition across the hotel.

…

These are just a few of the things we covered in our conversation. I think you’ll also enjoy hearing Jordan’s perspective on which categories of hotel tech hold the most potential today and a few companies that stand out to him.

Listen to my full conversation with Jordan today on the Hospitality Daily Podcast

More for you

If you’d like, you can hear more about technology from other past guests, including these conversations:

The Future of Hotel Tech is Here (Ed Skapinok at Appellation)

How To Evaluate, Buy & Implement Hotel Tech - Kari Anna Fiskvik, Strawberry

In this episode, Kari Anna Fiskvik, SVP of Technology at Strawberry, shares her insights on selecting and implementing techn…

podcast.hospitalitydaily.com/kari-anna-fiskvik-hotel-tech

The Magic of our "Golden Profiles" - Helen Smith and Eugenio Pirri, Dorchester Collection

In this episode, Helen Smith and Eugenio Pirri, joint CEOs of Dorchester Collection, share insights into what they call their "Golden Profiles" and how it enables…

podcast.hospitalitydaily.com/dorchester-golden-profiles

Visiting Media is one of the companies Jordan called out as one to watch, so check out my conversation with CEO Ben Powers:

How To Win More Sales, Faster Through Immersive Selling - Ben Powers, Visiting Media [Sponsor Bonus]

In this episode, Ben Powers, CEO of Visiting Media, shares a masterclass on how to sell effectively today with immersive technology and multi-sensory experiences.…

podcast.hospitalitydaily.com/visiting-media-sales

And that’s a wrap! This email was handmade for you—it took me 53 minutes to write thi...