I am Jennifer in Entiat, WA. My husband and I just moved her...
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I am Jennifer in Entiat, WA. My husband and I just moved here because we stayed at an Airbnb that we loved, saw the property ...
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This is part of the CC Festival of hospitality, original topic created in the German speaking Community Center, by @Veronica & Richard and translated below.
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Meaning and purpose (motivation)
The hospitality industry is not exactly known for modernisation, but there are some good approaches to optimisation and initial experiences.
In this article I will give an overview about digitisation, automation and chatbots... in the accommodation industry.
Because this article is only the short version, the full version is worth-reading and accessible in this link.
The content is essentially taken from forum contributions in the German-speaking Airbnb Community Center and enriched with practical examples.
The aim of the use of digitalisation in the hotel industry (as well as the availability of language assistants, chatbots and modern home automation) is to better recognise and serve the needs of guests. It is also to minimise and automate the processes and overheads of the accommodation (personnel and budget savings).
The use of digital application may increase the occupancy rate of smaller hostels and private accommodations, but these days hotels are usually already fully booked so can only improve cost-saving through automation. Such considerations include personnel costs, income through additional services and improved customer satisfaction & loyalty.
Definitions
The terms like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Chatbots are voice or text activated software applications that can be connected to software and the internet. You can find out more from Wikipedia.
The worldwide spread of language assistants is enormous; in early 2019 Amazon announced that it had sold over 100 million Alexa devices so far.
Innovation is also progressing well in the hospitality sector, with numerous documents published in major hotel magazines.
Also, in retirement homes and student residences, the innovation rises by leaps and bounds and is supported by large companies such as Amazon, Google, and Apple and strongly promoted.
We make exhaustive use of automation in our detached house which has received much astonishment and recognition from our guests. We’ve never seen a bad reaction!
Concerns
It’s often warned of the "tracking" of personal and private information by language assistants, plus there is also talk of getting digital "virus’" into the accommodation. However, you can also just turn them off and the host is actually legally obliged to do this should the guests request as such.
Information knowledge of the Airbnb CC
Through the CC at Airbnb, many people with an affinity for technology have their thoughts, and bring up-to-date and very informative aspects of modernisation into the discussion.
There are no comparable communication platforms anywhere in the hotel and accommodation industry: Airbnb is a beacon for other platforms!
In the long-form of this article, you will find coverage of the following topics:
- Advantages of modern technology
- Our home automation at home in your home of trust
- Automation and digitization in hotels
- indoor navigation
- language assistants
- chatbots
- Digital Concierge
- The future of emergent tech
- Beacons
- Google Maps
- 3D printer
- Door locks, access systems
- Heating, temperature, heating control
- Lighting, Smart LED
- entertainment
- IFTT
- NINA Storm Centre
- Fire detectors, air quality control
- information
- style guide
- extra services
- communication
- robots
- Artificial Intelligence
- Alexa
- Safety and security
- issues
- device binding
- future prospects
An example of our guest information with Alexa as information provider, animated by Fish Big-Mouth-Billy-Bass:
"Alexa, where's breakfast?"
Link: http://www.zur-fledermaus.de/mov/alexa-fisch.mov
Humanity
After all that, I want to remind you that innovative technology is not the be-all and end-all but exists to help people, bring them more joy to their lives and, of course, to serve security and save costs.
And it must never be forgotten that the guest as a person is the centre of attention - and not a hindrance to your technological fun! :-).
Veronica and Richard
