The Top 2024 Hotel Tech Trends Lists
Are you really committed to content marketing if you haven’t published a “Top Tech Trends in 2024” piece yet?
We joke, but when you read enough of these and start identifying similarities, you can get a really clear picture of what a hotel operator’s priorities should be as we move into next year. Thankfully we’ve done the legwork for you below. This is the top of the top – the top trending list of trends lists, if you will. Read through and ensure you’re planning strategies to tackle each of these areas in the coming months.
Travel Demand Persists
Bryan Wroten of Hotel News Now cites Tourism Economics data suggesting travel demand will persist despite an economic stall in the first half of 2024. In the piece, Adam Sacks , president of Tourism Economics, highlighted the robust recovery of the travel sector, with October's travel spending nearly 5% higher than in 2019 and year-to-date figures up by about 4%. Although hotel demand is not fully restored, the primary factor is the slow rebound of overseas travel to the U.S.
Sacks points out potential economic challenges on the horizon, however, he suggests U.S. travel may weather the economic headwinds due to factors like consumer sentiment, a shift from goods to experiences, and positive indicators in the travel industry, including a rebound in international outbound travel.
Top Focuses: Data and Artificial Intelligence
On the Otelier Blog, Anika Want outlines key hotel technology trends from the past year, including the seamless integration of smart technology, particularly the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for enhanced guest experiences and operational efficiency.
Want suggests hotel operators will prioritize enhanced data security measures and the growing importance of personalization through data analytics. She says successful integration of these trends can not only meet the evolving expectations of modern travelers but also set new standards for the hospitality industry.
Cloud Tech Affords Enhanced Operations
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Ben Walker says in Hospitality Investor that 2024 will see an acceleration of migration from on-premises legacy Property Management Systems to cloud versions, citing several large brands and supplier market leaders that have teamed up to prioritize innovation in 2024. There’s a growing focus on personalization in the guest journey, with IHG Hotels & Resorts enabling guests to customize room attributes, for example, and the broader industry trend towards ecommerce-style booking platforms.
A common goal is the need to simplify operations, reduce complexity, and streamline technology partnerships, with an increasing interest in all-in-one platforms or suites to facilitate, Walker says.
Open APIs Drive Innovation
In Hospitality Upgrade , Douglas Rice identifies the driving forces behind innovations in 2024, including labor shortages, increased environmental awareness, and the evolution of artificial intelligence.
Along the lines of the above articles, Rice says Generative AI will transform marketing content creation and address common guest questions. He also discusses the transition from closed-system designs to open APIs in hotel management systems, particularly noting the advancements made by Oracle Hospitality . Rice says hotels in 2024 will continue the digitization of hotel experiences, enabling new revenue opportunities by offering ancillary services.
Aligning Commercial Teams with Data
IDeaS Revenue Solutions ’s Klaus Kohlmayr anticipates significant shifts in 2024, including continued advancement toward the breakdown of data silos in hospitality, with hoteliers across departments challenged to maximize the value of guest data through the adoption of cloud-based data platforms. In PhocusWire , Kohlmayr emphasizes the importance of a connected commercial organization where revenue management, sales, and marketing align for shared goals, creating a holistic view of guests' profit potential and prioritizing profitability over conflicting metrics.
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