The hotel of the future is often spoken of in very abstract and speculative terms. But since the future doesn’t exist until it’s created in the present over time, it’s best not to wait for the hotel of future to just happen or to rely on single technology solutions to be the key to unlock it. Why not find ways to create that future in a more wholistic way – right now?
To do that, it’s always best to focus on the central mission of the hospitality industry: creating consistently welcoming environments, providing great services, and continuing to determine business objectives to support those things in scalable ways with the long view in mind. To flesh this out a bit more, here are 4 ways to create a vision for what the hotel of the future will look like as it’s built it today.
It’s much easier to create a sustainable vision for the hotel of the future when one knows the answer to a fundamental question in the present: who are our ideal guests, and what do they want from us? Hotel PMS with detailed guest profile functionality as a part of an integrated hotel technology platform can help organizations find the story in guest behaviour and profile data.
Guest-centric data like this helps to decision-makers to map out a vision and precise strategy. Getting a better picture of the guest and what they’re looking for in an experience also helps to provide a starting point to more meaningful technology investment.
Questioning the technology status quo is an ongoing process as the present becomes the future. To do this effectively, it’s essential to judge a tech stack and individual solutions as they relate to very specific business goals and practical outcomes. The process can start with asking some basic questions, like:
These questions and others can be valuable gauges as to where to invest in new technology and new partnerships with practicalities aligned with business goals firmly in place.
Sometimes, the most talented and insightful people in an organization get overlooked and valuable perspectives from across the departmental spectrum can get lost in the shuffle. Encouraging participation and ideation among all employees at every level can help leadership gain valuable perspectives on how to serve guests even better.
Creating accessible channels and forums to discuss ideas, experiences, and observations can help to put flesh on the bones of a company vision and strategy for what the future might best look like. It can also help create valuable team cohesion, better communications, and even greater talent retention.
Open communication and a culture of collaboration like this acknowledges employee points of view and the richness of their experiences and expertise. That can help leadership form a path that makes sense for everyone and a vision in which everyone is invested and has a continuing stake.
Planning for the hotel of the future can sometimes be best realized by anticipating the likeliest outcomes if one doesn’t take any action at all. Spending time considering the consequences of sticking with the status quo can be a powerful motivator to making vital transformations. Once again, considering the basics with honest, fresh, and diverse perspectives across an organization can help to address this in a meaningful way.
Additionally, external expertise can help break the deadlock that can occur when sticky status quo derails a cohesive and practical vision for the future. The right technology partner who understands the objectives and has a toolbox to enable and enhance it can help provide scalability and ensure meaningful evolution for a hotel business. And as always – great communications along the way are what really makes this effective.
Empathy, intelligence, and scalability are the most valuable guides for any business when it comes to envisioning the future and then building it. With those elements as a foundation for a company vision, that future is not so mysterious or abstract. It’s achievable right now.
This is good news for those hotel groups who have an unwavering dedication to great experiences as an ongoing, evolving goal. With that in place, the future isn’t something an organization and its leadership has to wait for. Hospitality leaders can make it happen, every day.
To get a better sense of how Infor approaches trusted partnerships and technology solutions to support customer success, you’re invited to check out our hotels and resorts industry page.
Infor is a global leader in business cloud software specialized by industry. Infor’s mission-critical enterprise applications and services are designed to deliver sustainable operational advantages with security and faster time to value. We are obsessed with delivering successful business outcomes for customers. Over 60,000 organizations in more than 175 countries rely on Infor’s 17,000 employees to help achieve their business goals. As a Koch company, our financial strength, ownership structure, and long-term view empower us to foster enduring, mutually beneficial relationships with our customers. Visit www.infor.com.
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