What Hotel Tech could look like in 2034, according to tech and AI experts

What Hotel Tech could look like in 2034 according to technology and AI experts

By Patricia Tothova

Expect…Glass TV’s that know your favourite films, showers that adapt to your body temperature and glass privacy walls which change from transparent to opaque.

• Technology experts reveal future technology you can expect to find in hotel room
• Interactive asset & 3D renders visualise hotel room
• By 2020, 85% of relationships with businesses will not require human interaction
• Over half of the population are concerned about how a lack of human interaction being replaced with artificial intelligence will alter their hotel experience.

An Interactive hotel room created by Guestline, through the insights of six technology and hospitality experts reveals how the hotel of the future will look at function by 2034.

Our highly accredited experts are from technology & AI, hotel and hospitality interior design companies, who provide their predictions and valuable insights show us what we can expect to see over in our hotel rooms over the next 15 years. You can read more about them on the meet the experts tab in the asset.

A recent study¹ predicted that by next year 85% of relationships with businesses will not require human interaction and hotels are seeking ways to become more customised and convenient for their guests. Experts told Guestline, who commissioned the project, that AI (Artificial Intelligence) and voice control would be one of the most prominent game changers in how we experience staying at a hotel.

“Soon there will be screens that welcome you by name when you approach them in the hotel lobby by using data from your mobile phones which already exists – registered through the hotels WIFI. Once you’re there it will be an automatic check-in process through facial recognition and your room key will be digitally downloaded to your mobile phone” says Ralph Fernando, Director of Strategy, Digital & Operations at Pragma.

You can find the interactive asset here: https://www.guestline.com/hotels-of-the-future/

The Digitalisation of Glass

Glass is the next big thing; its minimalist allure creates a sleek concept for technology to intertwine digitalization with design. Glass Tv’s are already being prototyped by the likes of Panasonic whilst we see planes of glass acting as entire walls.

Watch a sea view or go opaque with glass privacy walls

Glass walls can be attractive yet its ability to turn opaque if someone is using the bathroom makes it the perfect disguise. Being able to change the opacity and imagery on the glass makes it the ultimate personalized experienced to each individuals taste.

Ralph Fernando from Pragma said:

“Privacy glass will be incorporated within the hotel room that can be made transparent or opaque via an app on the in-room tablet, alternatively it would be possible to activate the privacy wall through voice control.

If it’s not privacy you need it might be to personalise the room to your mood and these wall length glass walls will allow guests to tailor the room decoration to their preferred style and colour, be that a video of beach waves or a sunrise in Bali.”

 

Artificial Intelligence and Voice Controlled Functions

The future is where AI and personal service will compete but also complement each other. Ordering a bottle of water from the in-room menu will no longer require a call down to reception, but a simple “Hello” to the i-concierge built into your room.

Owner & Director of Eccelston Square Hotel, Olivia Byrne said;

“Our phones will sync immediately with the in-room technology, for uninterrupted, comfortable and seamless facetiming/television/streaming and viewing. Guests will use dining apps available through the hotel property to seamlessly order exactly what they want, when they want it.

Voice assistants like Siri or Alexa will lose THEIR identities, instead their universally available knowledge will be integrated into our own personalised i-personality/bitmoji. i-assistants will be a comforting extension to our own knowledge. Interfacing will be highly personalised, but less personal.”

Artificially Intelligent Room Controls

No more will we need to draw the blinds, call down to order room service or ask for extra towels. Soon you’ll just chat with your in-room i-concierge who can even memorise what time to flick the light switch so you can grab some shut-eye.

Operations Director at City Suites, Duncan Anderson believes;

“Over the next 15 years voice technology will act as the control hub as it is very personal and hotel rooms are a good opportunity to get the guest to interact with AI to build a better profile of their preferences.”

 

Similarly, Ralph from Pragma states:

“Guests will have the ability to cast lighting levels, room temperature and music levels all through either AI or their digital pads on the wall.

We already know this exists in some hotels; however the technology is quite basic and we imagine that over the foreseeable future that control for the guests will become more personalised – such as sunrise/set lighting, audio that can produce a selection of noises to help you sleep and aromas to facilitate better sleeping.”

 

Showers that find your ideal temperature at a touch of a finger

Expect to find digital technology boards which can detect the optimal shower temperature from your body using just the heat levels from the touch of a finger.

“Quickly has technology provided us with ability to access things with touch and fingerprint recognition, using our DNA to make payments, access rooms, start your car and sign into work. Digital showers are already on the market, however moving forward we expect to find digital technology boards which can detect the optimal shower temperature from your body using just the heat levels from the touch of a finger.” Says Sara Canatario, Product Marketing Manager at Guestline

 

Everything will be Wireless

Jo Littlefair, Co-founder and Director of Goddard Littlefair shares her thoughts on a ‘wireless hotel’ keeping minimalism at the forefront of designing a hotel room. Having previously designed rooms for The Principal, The Hilton, Intercontinental and Corinthia Hotels, it is essential luxury is blended with sleek technology.

“Plugs and sockets will probably go completely. The trend will continue towards hidden or invisible technology, but with the provision that medical research on the effects of wireless connection hasn’t come up with anything negative in the interim. The interface and balance between wellbeing and technology will be key.”, Says Jo.

Glass TV’s will know you’re favourite TV shows and films

Glass Tv’s are already being prototyped by the likes of Panasonic, and with the allure of minimalism trending within interior design and personalisation becoming the demand for guests, we can expect to find all our favourite films and shows tailored to us on the screen when checking-in.

“We won’t have wiring systems everything will be Wi-Fi enabled and voice control. It should all be enabled and hooked up, things such as TV’s won’t need to have plugs in the back of them it will be so you can install it anywhere in the room.” saysCo-founder & CEO of Humanize, Duncan Anderson.

Guestline recently surveyed 2,000 UK citizens² about their concerns on all processes being managed through artificial intelligence rather than reception staff.

The results revealed that over half (60%) and concerned about how a lack of human interaction being replaced with artificial intelligence will alter their hotel experience and requests.

Are we ready for the future?

Patricia Tothova is a UK based representative for Guestline, a hospitality technology company.

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