The future of hotel technology in the US and why it matters 

The majority of the US hotel industry also feels like this, with around 67% of hoteliers suffering with staff shortages that consequently impact the running of the business from longer room turnarounds to slower services. This can start to form inefficient processes and lead to more challenges that take away the guest experience.  

So, how does hotel tech fix these problems, and what does the future of hotel software look like? As we live in a fast-paced world, technology is catching up and taking on the hotel problems that once were difficult to solve. At Access Hospitality, we provide the tech tools that are designed to take those challenges off your plate and help your team focus on your guests. As the new era of hotel tech starts to take shape, we ensure our customers are always ahead of the game and are prepared with the latest hotel software solutions. In this article, we will explore what the future of hotel tech looks like and how US hoteliers can embrace the new era of easy hotel software.  

Hoteliers aren’t asking for the most expensive hotel software that comes with all the bells and whistles. They want to make operations simpler with systems that stay connected and can be trusted to deliver results, which is what the new era of hotel tech is trying to achieve.  

Why hotel technology change is happening now 

Many hotels are still disconnected, with our latest report showing that hoteliers are currently operating with around 5 separate systems. This means hotel operations aren’t performing to the best of their ability as:  

• Teams juggle multiple systems and may still be using outdated paper processes. 
• Housekeeping and front desks become slower without the right room or booking information.  
• There is a limited real-time view of the entire hotel operation.  
•  Wider teams work independently instead of collaboratively.  

This isn’t to say your teams aren’t working hard, it highlights that they need the right tools to execute their job efficiently and effectively.  

The biggest pain points in the hotel industry  

The common challenges hoteliers find in their operations are universally shared across the US. But there are some issues that can’t seem to disappear such as:  

• Staff shortages – The level of hotel employment has taken a big hit in recent years, with numbers still 10% below pre-pandemic staffing levels. This means hotels are working at max capacity without the resources.  
• Lack of communication – When there’s a disconnect between teams, it impacts your overall guest experience significantly while causing avoidable mistakes that could be deemed costly.  
• Rising labor costs – Over the past few years, labor costs have increased by 11.2% which directly impacts hotel profit growth and revenue opportunities.

These problems aren’t anything new, but without the right hotel tech or support these issues will fester into your operations.  

Using modern hotel technology now takes these pain points and makes your hotel operations look more optimistic. Outdated and disconnected systems become costly but with the right tools in place, your operational processes transform. You don’t need to replace your team with modern tech stacks; you need to support them.  

How automation helps teams save significant time 

One of the most valuable resources in a hotel business is time, and it can be impacted if manual processes get in the way. But with the right hotel tech tools, it can drastically cut admin time and keep your operation ticking over by:  

• Automatically allocating rooms based on specific priorities so everyone knows what they’re doing and when.  
• Providing real-time room status updates so your front desk knows when rooms are ready.  
• Automating your operational forecasting means hours of spreadsheet planning can be a thing of the past and provide more accurate information.  

Where US hotels can cut unnecessary costs without cutting the guest experience  

Having hotel tech that is cost effective isn’t cutting corners or taking the cheaper route, but it’s about doing things smarter. Here’s where you can typically find the biggest benefits from adopting easy hotel software:  

• More accurate staff scheduling reduces gaps and streamlines each department, so no operation is lacking in support.  
• Housekeeping stays consistent and limits unnecessary errors that could lead to costly repercussions.  
• Duplicated manual tasks are long gone as automated processes are put in place.  
• Systems are unified and connected so all teams are aligned with accurate data and real-time insights.  

Putting the tech into practice to optimize your hotel operations is the next step forward to eliminating stress and reclaiming control. As staffing issues are still cause for concern and teams are taking on more responsibility, it’s important that your hotel tech aligns with your operational needs.  

What operations optimization looks like in a modern US hotel 

When your hotel is running with the right hotel software and teams that are aligned, you create an operation that looks a lot calmer. On a daily basis, you can see:  

• Room updates happen automatically without any confusing calls between departments.  
• Housekeeping and maintenance staff follow processes that are now second nature, so no errors come up.  
• Your managers have real-time visibility of all your team’s activity and where gaps might need attention.  
• Service is consistent across all departments without any blockers.  

Why better operations create better guest experiences 

The reason why hotel software is important is not just for your operations, but also for the overall guest experience. This is what every hotel considers to be the main focus of their business and to keep guests coming back. When everything is running smoothly, it frees up staff time, rooms become ready faster and issues are recognised long before it’s too late.  

When mistakes disappear and teams feel supported, it makes the biggest difference to your guest experience and results in more revenue opportunities that you might have been missing.  

Finding the right place to start can be the hardest part of your hotel tech journey, but that’s totally normal. The hotel software world can be a daunting and overwhelming place, but with the right mindset and vision, you will find what you’re looking for. 

How to know what tech is working and what is slowing your operations down  

Before you start shopping around for new tech, it’s best to see what you already have with your current setup. Consider:  

• If your team is entering the same information into more than one system.  
• Where does communication breakdown most often and what does that cost you? 
• Is room readiness slowing down your turnaround times? 
• Ask your staff what frustrates them most on a typical shift. 

These starting points will give you more clarity into how your operations are currently working and which hotel tech will be the most cost-effective.  

Why bringing your systems together benefits your hotel in the long run 

The future of hotel technology isn’t about the latest modules and features, but it’s about keeping everything connected. The more your systems talk to each other, the more benefits you will see. When everything works as one, you will rely less on complex setups and errors that can slip under the rug.  

When onboarding new staff, you can easily show them how the operation works in one platform without working in separate systems that create confusion. Or when you need to make informed decisions, you can have an accurate bank of data readily available without conflicting information. Once your systems are working as one, you are heading into the future of hospitality technology.  

The last few years have proven to be the most demanding for US hoteliers, with smaller teams and tighter budgets causing higher pressures to create exceptional guest experiences. But what hotel technology can do is solve these gaps and provide solutions to challenges that will streamline operations and take those pressures away.  

In this article, we have discovered the main ways hotel technology is transforming the hotel landscape and why modernizing your hotel tech stack will alleviate those pain points that have been hard to shake. At Access Hospitality, we provide our customers with practical hotel technology that supports US hoteliers with operational management and guest engagement to help them create great guest experiences without the complexity. Once you simplify your systems and keep them connected, you create more opportunities to deliver better guest experiences.