Electronic check-in will work for five-star hotels

Electronic self check-in kiosks are relevant for all sectors of the hospitality industry said panelists at a technology seminar last month.

The seminar, which was held at The Hotel Show, in Dubai Exhibition Centre, discussed the importance of technology versus the importance of people.

Infosight technical advisor and panel member Ted Horner said: “Kiosks can fit across the range. The reality today is that if I’m in a five star hotel, why shouldn’t there be a kiosk to give me the choice? If I wasn’t to get to my room quickly and I’m familiar with kiosks, they speed up the check in.”

This view was shared by fellow panelist and ProtempIT ltd director Kirsten Molle who concluded: ““It widens the customer choice. You don’t want to have to go to reception, to have to talk to somebody. For me check in kiosk, if I can manage it by myself, is perfect.”

“A lot of this to me is about what our product portfolio is that we are offering our questions – so you have a reception desk s well as [a kiosk],” she added.

Although Horner stated that kiosks were relevant for the five star sector, he did concede that they were more likely to be used in lower to mid-scale hotels.

“You will see a greater proliferation of kiosks in the lower priced hotels scales because it’s a cost scenario, there is a very strong investment analysis when you look at the cost of labour versus the cost of kiosks,” he said.