Hospitality changes year on year. New developments, technologies and customer preferences lead to adaptations in hospitality trends. This has never been the case more so than now, as the industry recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the principal ways that hospitality venues such as hotels and spa or wellness centers are changing is by focusing on offering value. These days, customers are more reluctant to part with their hard-earned cash so when they do, it has to be for something special.
Keep reading to find out more about how these hospitality trends are changing the face of the industry.
This new trend has experienced an explosion of popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Circadian rhythms are the human body’s natural, daily changes that occur throughout the day. These rhythms are triggered by light and dark. When it is light, these rhythms tell the body to be alert, awake and active. When it is dark, the body naturally knows to begin slowing mental and physical processes, preparing for sleep.
The hospitality industry is beginning to adapt their environments to be in tune with the body’s rhythms. This is done primarily through LED lighting but in connection with other elements such as music and olfactory stimulants. If a spa center or hotel is able to control the ambience of an environment, they can shape a user’s experience and yield many positive results.
An understanding of circadian rhythms means that public areas at night are dimmer, more relaxing spaces. Furthermore, inside the guests’ private rooms, the colour of lighting can be changed either by the guest themselves or remotely. The color of lighting is known to have an enormous positive effect on peoples’ circadian rhythms and therefore their wellbeing and health.
Another way that hospitality venues are improving their services is by offering ways for customer experiences to be completely connected. Over the past 5 years, the use of health data in our phones and smart watches has elevated our understanding of our bodies’ needs. With this new connectivity, we can monitor everything from our heart rate to sleep schedule and calorie intake.
All of this new information at our fingertips is an opportunity for the hospitality industry to create profoundly personal experiences. A guest’s visit to the swimming pool can be shaped by their physical and emotional needs. For instance, the lighting and music can be in tune with where a person’s emotional state is. Moreover, mood lighting in a guest’s bedroom can be automatically tuned to their sleep needs. If a system knows the guest is not sleeping well, they can find ways to adapt to that in a personalized and effective way.
This is another unique and exciting development, particularly for people who have been starved of socialising for a year. This hospitality trend is a way of focusing on how guests can interact with each other in an enjoyable, enriching way. There is a renewed focus on how spaces are shared with each other, rather than concentrating on private relaxation.
This focus on social inclusion comprises a removal of the separation between staff and guests. Staff become a part of the experience, shaping the personalized nature of a guest’s stay or wellness experience.
Finally, one of the most obvious hospitality trends in 2021 and onwards will be the move towards contactless technology. QR codes will be seen everywhere, from viewing a menu, paying bills to entering rooms. As we move to a society that is reassessing cleanliness and personal hygiene, it is natural that these technologies will come to be present in many aspects of our lives.
It also has the benefit of being very simple and cheap to set up. A venue manager can create a new QR code with a dedicated generator and print it wherever it is needed. Then, the user only needs to scan the code and be taken to the relevant page.
As we can see, the main trends are all about moving away from standardization. People want to feel catered for, that they know the money they have put into their stay generates a significant return. They also want to feel safe, hygienic and responsible. Satisfying these needs will become essential in the years to come.