Infosight's Ted Horner and ProtempIT ltd?s Kirsten Molle discuss technology and people. Infosight's Ted Horner and ProtempIT ltd?s Kirsten Molle discuss technology and people.

Electronic self check-in kiosks are relevant for all sectors of the hospitality industry said panelists at a technology seminar held 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 want 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 said: “It widens the customer choice. You don’t want to have to go to reception, to have to talk to somebody. For me a 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 — so you may have a reception desk as 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 hotel 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.

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