Safe Stays in Smart Hotels: Embrace Contactless Room Service

As we all know, since 2020, COVID-19 has swept across the globe, with a particularly noticeable impact on industries including catering, tourism, and related services. The hotel industry has also faced significant operational pressures, and the prolonged slump has caused many hotels to come to a standstill. Simultaneously, smart hotels emerged, with contactless room services reducing interactions between staff and guests, minimizing the risk of virus transmission.

Nowadays, as the pandemic gradually comes under control and affected industries begin to recover, contactless hotels are not becoming outdated. This contactless technology has become a prevailing trend, catering to the needs of travelers and enhancing hygiene and safety measures. Exploring contactless room services and their advantages, to help hotel operators devise prudent management strategies.

What is Contactless Room Service?

Contactless room service is a highly convenient and innovative reception service offered by hotels, resorts, or other accommodations to their customers.

In this mode, guests can receive desired room services such as item replenishment, housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance services without the need for direct physical contact with hotel staff.

Beyond room services, the entire check-in process can even be contactless, ensuring a safe, comfortable, and efficient staying experience.

This forward-looking service model is primarily achieved by using mobile apps/online platforms/advanced technological tools.

Guests just simply submit their service requests through mobile devices or online channels. The hotel service staff can receive it and arrange services. The whole electronic service process not only improves customer satisfaction but also enhances the hotel’s efficiency.

1. Contactless Check-in:

Contactless check-in hotels primarily use the following two methods to check in: online check-in and offline self-service check-in machines. Both options require guests to operate independently to achieve a contactless experience between hotel staff and customers.

• Online Check-In: Guests use their mobile phones, tablets, or other electronic devices to access the designated hotel app or website. Following that, they browse the hotel menu, select the room or items they want, submit their order electronically and online payments.

• Offline Self-Service Check-In Kiosk: Customers need to first visit the hotel and then complete the check-in process using hotel lobby kiosks. Similar to online check-in, guests can use the machine to select preferred rooms and services. After submitting the order, they can make contactless payments by swiping a credit card or using mobile payment apps.

2. Enjoy Contactless Room Services:

After completing the check-in process, guests can proceed directly to their reserved rooms. Authorized settings allow them to use digital keys to easily access elevators, hotel access control systems, and hotel room locks. This minimizes frequent contact with physical room keys. Additionally, some access systems support features such as facial recognition and Bluetooth unlocking.

During the stay, hotel contactless services also enable guests to remotely control room devices, such as power switches, curtains, remote controls, and air conditioning. Three control methods are available: voice control, local control, and mobile device control. Providing a convenient “zero-contact smart room control” experience available 24/7.

3. Contactless Check-Out:

Hotel mobile check-out refers to guests using their mobile devices to complete the check-out process with a simple tap. This streamlined and convenient process aims to eliminate traditional check-out procedures (such as visiting the front desk in person). Instead, guests can settle bills, review payment details, and check out using a mobile application or dedicated platform.

Specific Contactless Room Services Solution  

Smart Voice Control

Smart voice control system is an innovative solution based on AI and voice recognition technology, specifically designed for room environments. Its aim is to enable efficient and convenient operation of devices and functions within the room. With this technology, various devices and facilities within the room can be precisely controlled by voice commands. This eliminates the need for traditional remote controls or physical switches.

Guests simply need to call out the room assistant’s name to activate the system and then state their needs. The system will quickly respond and execute the commands. This advanced technology not only provides guests with a more effortless experience but also enhances the technological feel and competitive edge of the room.

Intelligent Robot Service

Intelligent robot service encompasses functions such as navigation guidance, item delivery, and reception services. These robots can fully replace manual repetitive tasks and effectively reduce labor and time costs.

Based on my own encounters, hotel robots are primarily utilized for delivering various items like food, packages, and room supplies. When I wanted some food brought to my room, I simply placed an order through the hotel app on my phone. The hotel service response was prompt, and my requested items arrived swiftly.

The whole delivery procedure seems like this: the hotel staff acknowledges guest requests through the system, and then passes the items to the robot. This robot then autonomously brings the items right to the guest room, using the room number as guidance.

Once the robot finishes the delivery, the system informs guests to collect items. This setup completely avoids any physical interaction, ensuring efficient, clean, and convenient service.

All-in-One Smartphone Control

With the advent of the 5G era, AI+IoT technology has been widely applied in hotel rooms. Through the hotel app, guests can design their staying environment easily and freely according to their accommodation preferences, achieving comprehensive autonomous control. This not only empowers guests with more personalized control but also reduces the risk of germ transmission. Thus creating a cleaner and safer living environment for guests.

This cutting-edge technological application also plays a significant role in guest-hotel interactions. Instead of cumbersome phone calls, guests can quickly communicate with room services through the smart terminal app, meeting various needs. This efficient communication method not only saves time but also provides guests with a more personalized guest experience.

In-Room Tablet

Similar to smartphone control, the in-room tablet can manage all electronic devices within the room. While smartphones might require downloading specific apps or logging into certain websites to control these devices, the in-room tablet does not require such steps. By simply turning on the screen, guests can directly control the devices they wish.

Additionally, the in-room tablet provides various services and information to enhance the hotel guest’s stay. Some of these features include:

• Direct control of room lighting, air conditioning, curtains, and other devices using the tablet to customize the room environment.
• Access to restaurant menus, allowing guests to place orders directly through the tablet and have food delivered to their rooms. One-stop dining service for added convenience.
• Entertainment options include movies, music, and TV shows for guest enjoyment.
• Tourist guides featuring nearby attractions, maps, and transportation information.
• Support for multiple language interfaces to meet the needs of guests from different countries and regions.
• Guests can also communicate with front desk staff in real-time through the tablet, making inquiries or requests.
• …

Advantages of Contactless Room Service for Your Hotel

1. Increasing Hotel Occupancy Rates

Contactless hotel check-in transformed the traditional check-in method. It allows guests to break free from the confines of queuing at the front desk for check-in procedures. Various check-in methods are available: online reservations, contactless offline check-in, or front desk check-in.

With various options, guests are able to enjoy a more convenient experience while speeding up the check-in process, resulting in higher occupancy levels.

Especially during high-traffic periods, guests can complete registration and payment procedures online in advance. This enables them to head directly to their rooms upon arrival, bypassing the cumbersome waiting steps.

This approach can attract more guests to choose to stay, especially business travellers and tourists who value efficiency and convenience.

2. Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings

The integration of digitization and artificial intelligence in hotel management presents significant advantages. It can reduce errors caused by manual operations, further elevating the quality of hotel services.

Simultaneously, by introducing automated systems, hotel staff can delegate most routine tasks to the automated system. Thus making them focus more on high-value service areas such as answering customer queries and coordinating special requests.

Moreover, the use of AI technology instead of traditional manual operations not only lowers labor costs but also achieves precise intelligent control. This can effectively reduce energy consumption and contribute to efficient resource conservation and optimization for the hotel.

3. Innovative Personalized Room Services

Contactless room services create a superior and convenient stay experience for guests. Guests can use their smartphones to customize room selection, service reservations, temperature and lighting adjustments, tailoring the experience to their personal preferences. 

Further, hotels can recommend specific services and activities based on guests’ historical preferences and tendencies. In summary, this initiative is expected to increase guest satisfaction and encourage them to actively recommend the hotel to others.

4. Lost keys are no longer a concern

Traditional physical keys and key cards are prone to loss or forgetfulness during usage, causing various inconveniences. Moreover, once these items fall into the wrong hands, they could pose a threat to the overall security of the premises. Contactless room services completely avoid this risk since physical keys are eliminated. This involves a crucial device – keyless entry door locks.

With advanced wireless technology, the keyless entry lock digitizes traditional keys into virtual keys. This means guests only need to open their mobile application, select the appropriate room, and one click to unlock. It not only increases guest convenience, but also mitigates potential risks associated with key loss, theft, or duplication.

5. Gaining a Competitive Edge for Hotels

As technology continues to advance, touchless room services have become a competitive advantage in the hospitality industry. Adopting this advanced service model allows hotels to stand out in the market and attract more guests. Hotels with a tech-savvy image are often more appealing, contributing to brand awareness and loyalty building.

6. Enhancing Hotel Security

Compared to traditional hotel locks, keyless entry hotel locks employ more advanced and secure access technology. This system utilizes modern technology, such as smartphones, electronic cards, or biometric recognition, to provide guests with a safe and convenient check-in experience.

Additionally, this system can monitor check-in situations in real time, providing more accurate security control. Besides improving guest comfort, this also provides hotel management with a better way to manage security. Thus ensuring reliable privacy protection and belonging protection for each guest.

Use Contactless Technology in Hotel Guest Rooms Now! 

Clearly visible, non-contact room technology has brought numerous advantages to hotels, becoming a highly valuable cutting-edge investment. By integrating functions such as mobile check-in, virtual concierge services, smart room controls, and contactless payment options, hotels can provide guests with a seamless experience.

These innovations streamline various aspects of the accommodation while minimizing direct human interaction, thereby prioritizing hotel guest health and comfort. In the hotel industry, implementing contectless technology has become a crucial part of enhancing customer satisfaction and ensuring a modern, efficient, and hygienic stay.

Over the past twenty-two years, YGS has accumulated extensive product experience, thus making products both stable and reliable, as well as aligned with current trends. We not only offer advanced hotel smart lock systems but also provide complete smart hotel/smart room solutions. Contactless and barrier-free check-in processes can be realized effortlessly.

Contact us now to upgrade your hotel door lock system and immediately introduce non-contact room technology! Elevate your hotel customer experience to unprecedented heights, confidently and stylishly embracing the future of the hotel industry.