What is a Smart Hotel Room?

Smart room technology is a key trend for hotel owners to be aware of, and the desire to create a smart hotel is growing, for a number of reasons. In this article, you will find out more information about what a smart room is, why smart hotel technology is so important, and how smart hotel rooms can actually benefit hotel owners and guests alike.

What is a Smart Hotel Room?

A smart hotel room is a room that makes use of ‘smart’ electronic devices powered by the Internet of Things(IoT). This IoT technology means that what were once ordinary devices are now fitted with internet connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data and, effectively, communicate with one another.

This internet connectivity and communication capability allows devices to find information from the internet, and to interact with other devices in the nearby vicinity. For instance, it might mean that multiple devices can be controlled through a smart speaker, or that the performance of devices can be monitored from a single hub.

Why is Smart Room Technology Becoming Important?

A growing number of hotel companies, including the likes of Hilton and Marriott, are embracing the concept of the smart hotel room, but why is this technology becoming so popular? Perhaps the single most important reason is that it can improve the actual experience of staying in a hotel, by enhancing the convenience aspect.

With that being said, smart hotel solutions have grown in popularity for other reasons, such as their ability to reduce some of the costs associated with running a hotel. This, in turn, can improve financial results. Furthermore, the novelty factor of a smart hotel room can also be used to help a hotel to stand out from more traditional hotels and resorts, making it an interesting concept from a marketing perspective.

5 Benefits of Smart Hotel Rooms

1. Greater Personalization

One of the main benefits of a smart hotel room is the ability to offer guests a greater level of personalization. This means that hotel guests can quickly and easily make adjustments to their room, to get it the precise way they want it, improving their enjoyment of the room and making it feel more like home.

Indeed, through a smart hub, tablet device, or other central control point, customers can swiftly make changes to the conditions within the room, such as choosing a preferred temperature and lighting level. Through IoT technology, the heating, air conditioning, lights, etc., can respond to and automatically maintain those conditions.

2. Improved Sustainability

For hotel management, one of the biggest advantages of creating a smart hotel is the reduced costs that are often associated with the concept. This is primarily due to improvements to sustainability and energy efficiency within the hotel rooms, with certain devices only being used when they are needed.

As an example, a smart room can be set up so that the power of the light bulbs is automatically reduced during daylight hours, or so that heating automatically turns off when a room reaches a specified temperature or when a room is unoccupied. This means less energy is wasted, and the hotel can even promote this eco-friendliness.

3. Enhanced Customer Experience

Perhaps the most immediately obvious benefit of a smart hotel room is the improvement it can deliver in terms of the customer experience. A smart speaker, such as that provided through the Alexa for Hospitality service, assists with this by making it possible for TVs, lights, heating, and other devices to be controlled through voice commands.

Additionally, a smart room can assist with other aspects, such as requesting room service or information. While traditional rooms often mean questions need to be asked at the reception desk or over the telephone, a smart hub can understand questions and respond instantly, using the internet to source answers.

4. Remote Room Controls

Another benefit of smart hotel rooms and the Internet of Things is the ability for hotel staff to access various room controls from a remote location. This is especially useful for getting a hotel room ready for a new guest, improving the comfort level they are greeted upon checking in.

For instance, a smart hotel can be set up so that the heating in a hotel room is automatically turned on for a specified amount of time before a guest checks in. This will ensure the room is at an ideal temperature when they arrive, and this can be achieved without staff having to go into the hotel room, saving time and effort.

5. Faster and More Reliable Repairs

Finally, one advantage that is sometimes overlooked when it comes to smart rooms is the improved ability to anticipate technical issues with devices and make repairs swiftly. This allows hotels to intervene at the most timely possible moment, avoiding situations where the need for repairs hinders the customer experience.

Essentially, the use of IoT technology allows the performance of electronic devices to be monitored remotely, providing hotel staff with live information about their operating status. This means issues with performance can be spotted before they become critical, repairs can be made, or replacement devices can be fitted.

7 Ways to Transform a Hotel Room Into a Smart Room

While a growing number of owners are willing to embrace the idea of smart hotel rooms, many are unsure of how to go about actually implementing smart hotel systems. To help out, in the article “7 Ways to Transform a Hotel Room Into a Smart Room” you will find seven ways to transform a hotel room into a smart room.

What is a Smart Room?

Video: Example of a smart hotel room