Q: How can hotels tell which in-room innovations are genuinely useful and which are just gimmicks?
Salgia: Hotels should select products that already have successful live installations and only base the success of a particular product on guest feedback. Any technology that can’t fulfil either of these qualities should be questioned whether they can deliver the value promised.
Chevalley: What’s genuine and what “sticks” is really “in the eye of the beholder”, meaning only the guests can tell. In terms of telling solutions apart, this has traditionally been a very big problem as old systems were notoriously clumsy, locked and rigid and nothing could be changed without huge investments. Most hotels were simply happy if they had a system that they could get their logo onto! With InnSpire, each hotel looks very different, clearly branded all the way through with the tone, colours, logos and brand identity of the hotel.
Dumas: Anything that saves time and provides more customer intimacy is good. The crucial step is about testing the product, reviewing project references, and making your mind up. There are many technologies out there for many different needs. A good rule of thumb for technology is: “has this made my customer’s life simpler?”
Fernandes: Opinions, forums and surveys are quite prevalent and accessible across the internet where you get the pros and cons of almost anything. So regardless of a good marketing campaign, the consumers will get to know if it’s a short hurray or a standout product. So it is best for hotels to give it some time before jumping straight into the latest craze.
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Jeffery: The key is effectiveness and simplicity. The genuinely useful apps are those that add real value to both the guest and the hotel. A good gauge of an app’s effectiveness is if it improves the guest experience, increases brand loyalty, increases revenue opportunities and reduces costs.
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