Hospitality Meets Digitalization - Innovative hospitality trends around the globe

Singapore, 7 June 2018 – In recent years, the hotel industry has been seeing significant digital transformation. With a rising demand for innovation and technological advancement in guest rooms, it is no surprise that many hotels are investing in electronic gadgets to keep up with the digital economy. Here are 16 hotels from the WorldHotels collection that are embracing the latest digital trends in hospitality.

Complimentary usage of mobile phones at Hotel Opera Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Hotel Opera Zurich prides itself as one of the first hotels in Switzerland to offer complimentary usage of handy smartphones in all rooms. The phones can be used in and out of the hotel and offer free internet access, national and international calls. Particularly useful for international guests and business travellers, these handy devices also work as local guides by offering insider tips, and even double up as a butler by providing information on hotel services at just a click of a button. Moreover, the hotel offers an online check-in via smartphone and laptop for all guests. It will not be long before guests can use their smartphones as their room keys.

The following hotels have also hopped on the bandwagon to provide complimentary mobile devices for their guests: French hotels Kube Hotel Paris, 1K Paris and Villa Panthéon, Hongqiao Jin Jiang Hotel Shanghai, The Royal Garden and Lan Kwai Fong Hotel in Hong Kong, Dorsett Grand Subang in Malaysia, Singaporean hotels Carlton Hotel, Carlton City Hotel and Goodwood Park Hotel. Also, Filipino hotel Bai Hotel Cebu is using the JustIN mobile application as a digital solution for their room keys.

Robots at Dorsett Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Fun, informative and interactive: Dorsett Shanghai has welcomed two high-tech additions to its hotel guest service team. The two robots are equipped with voice and touchscreen functions to provide information on hotel facilities and the neighborhood. They also entertain the masses during event intermissions with musical and dance performances. 

High-tech personal assistants at ACME Hotel, Chicago, United States

Fancy a personal assistant waiting in your room? The ACME hotel Chicago fulfils that dream for their tech-savvy guests. Upon check-in, guests can find the voice-controlled Amazon Echo waiting in the room. Voice activated by "Alexa, Ask Acme," the Amazon Echo provides intelligent personal assistance, which includes room service and maintenance requests. The hotel even offers more perks for the tech-inclined, such as Hot-Spots To-Go, keyless room entry via a mobile app, Snapchat Spectacles and Apple watches that guests can check out for free.

In-room tablets at Hotel Damier, Kortrijk, Belgium

In every room, Hotel Damier offers tablets at their guests’ disposal. Guests can use them to call for room service, play games and access the weather channel. Hotel staff can also directly send messages and push exclusive offers to their guests via the tablets.

The following hotels also offer tablets or iPad minis in each room: American hotels Dana Hotel and Spa in Chicago, FOUND:RE Phoenix in Phoenix, and The Woodlands Resort in Texas, and Amilla Fushi in the Maldives.