How Does the Hospitality Industry Use Indoor Wayfinding Technology to Improve the Guest Experience?

Hospitality is an evolving industry that is constantly looking for better ways to improves guest experience in hospitality. Regarding recent trends, Indoor Wayfinding Technology is a significant strategy. Since guests are being served better and housekeeping procedures are being enhanced, location wayfinding technology is transforming the hotel and resort departments without burdening the organization with new assets. In this blog post, we will discuss how wayfinding technology used in the hospitality industry is enhancing the visitor experience.

The Evolution of the Guest Experience in the Hospitality Industry

Hospitality is always about meeting the needs of a guest or the end user of a service. Whether it’s a luxurious resort or a budget-friendly hotel, the goal remains: to provide the guests with an impression of warmth, comfort and desire to return. More than 81% of hospitality businesses believe that technology used in the hospitality industry assists in delivering better services and this objective is being accomplished with high precision and personalized care for each individual. Contemporary location wayfinding technology assists in identifying the guests’ activities and mobility to respond to the services provided. From controlling individual rooms to providing efficient navigation solutions, this technology used in the hospitality industry is creating new opportunities to improve guest experience in hospitality.

How Indoor Wayfinding Technology Works

Advanced Indoor Wayfinding Technology from Mapsted is hardwareless, but it generally involves the use of diverse sensors and beacons that are installed within the hotel or resort setting. These devices are linked to the guest’s smartphone or another type of electronic device and control guests’ motion in real-time. Services are offered to the guest based on the data collected through data analytics. Several services utilize location wayfinding technology in the hospitality industry, as follows:

• Wi-Fi-Based Systems: These systems use the hotel infrastructure to track guests’ movements. While simple to use, they can sometimes yield relatively low accuracy.
• Bluetooth Beacons: Wireless Bluetooth beacons placed at specific hotel points make the information more accurate since they connect to the guests’ devices via Bluetooth. However, this method is more accurate in controlling the customer’s movement.
• Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Technology: UWB provides the highest level of accuracy in indoor positioning and navigation but needs additional equipment and has more complex installation processes. It is common in luxury hotels where accuracy is crucial.

With technological improvement, Mapsted provides hardware-less and minimum hardware indoor navigation solutions for enhanced hospitality.

1. Personalized Services

Hospitality is one of the areas where location wayfinding technology plays a crucial role in delivering services that improve guest experience in hospitality. For instance, guests are welcomed with an introduction message as soon as they step in. Specific instructions lead them smoothly to the reception and their room. Real-time management messages are also conveyed in real-time, improving guest experience in hospitality. The “Where is my car?” feature assists them in locating where their car is parked in the parking lot. This way, every guest is made to feel special and their time at the hotel becomes more pleasant. This approach enhances the guest experience in hospitality and encourages loyalty, transforming the hospitality sector.

2. Streamlined Navigation

In a large facility, guests get lost and sometimes, they must be guided by several people or the help desk. Using Mapsted’s Indoor Wayfinding Technology, guests are navigated to their preferred areas in the facility within a few seconds. This helps to avoid situations where they get lost or delayed and they can enjoy their time there without stress. This efficiency is due to the technology used in the hospitality industry, which aims to perfect every interaction with the guest. Real-time navigation helps save time when searching for different places, which is a factor that has a positive impact on guests’ satisfaction. Adopting technology used in the hospitality industry is meant to represent quality service delivery and improve guest experience in hospitality.

3. Real-Time Room Service and Dining Experiences

Picture guests lounging by the pool or in any other hotel corner. They can order anything through the hotel’s app and with Mapsted’s location wayfinding technology, they can share their live location and get the service right where they want it. This allows the staff to take their requests to the right place, whether a glass of juice or some food. It enhances the quality of service delivery to hospitality guests and organizational efficiency. The opportunity to offer such an individual approach no matter where the guest is in the hotel serves the purpose of convenience. It adds a touch of luxury to the stay. This technology used in the hospitality industry is changing the course of the industry by bringing together convenience with elegance, enhancing the satisfaction of the guests while at the same time improving efficiency.

4. Improved Housekeeping Efficiency

Another important area where location wayfinding technology can greatly help is housekeeping. Cleanliness and room readiness are two key factors that guests consider when it comes to the satisfaction of their stay. This is how Indoor Wayfinding Technology helps the housekeeping process:

• Planning: The day begins with the facilities manager determining when cleaning will be done within the establishment. The location wayfinding technology makes it possible to identify which rooms need the attention of the housekeeping services depending on when the guest checked out, when they made some specific requests, or depending on the status of the hotel, where it can be determined that the rooms are dirty.
• Execution: Once the plan is in place, the housekeeping staff upload their assignments to their smartphones. This provides them with a map showing where they are supposed to clean and detailed instructions. This saves the time that employees spend in large compounds searching for places to be and ensures that they do what they are hired to do.

For example, when a guest checks out and the next guest requests an early check-in, the location wayfinding technology ensures that the housekeeping team receives the alert and that the room is cleaned before the guest arrives. Since it is real-time communication, room turnovers are quicker, thereby enhancing the customer experience in the hospitality industry.

5. Security Enhancements

Security is always a key concern in any hospitality business and this is where location wayfinding technology plays a major role. This implies that any stranger cannot access an area reserved for guests only; this increases the security measures of the hotels. Specific information about the location of the guests can enhance the chances and speed of evacuation in case of an emergency. Actions that enhance security and contribute to a positive environment show how guests should be protected.

In this way, the guests are confident that their safety is paramount and can enjoy their stay at the hotel without fearing for their security. This attracts customers willing to spend a little more on the hotel and gives higher satisfaction levels and word-of-mouth referrals to other potential clients, which is crucial in the competitive hotel business. Using such complex systems demonstrates concern for the guests’ welfare. It can be a marketing advantage for a hotel since guests seek comfort and safety in their accommodations.

6. Event Management

Location wayfinding technology is a miraculous solution for hotels that organize events. It is possible to manage the flow of the guests, make the most of the space, offer directions to the venue of events and offer the most appropriate experience to the guests. In this case, the particular technology used in the hospitality industry improves event management in the following ways. First of all, the acute awareness of guests’ presence can contribute to the coordination of the check-in process, eliminate the possibility of delays and, as a result, form a positive image of the hotel among the attendees.

This is effective and ensures that there is always a convenient time to gain access to the event venue. In addition, the hotels can send messages to the guests through personalized text messages such as the timetable of the events, change of venue, or any other promotions. This communication informs the guests, reminds them of the hotel and warms their hearts, which may be helpful when other hotels are around. Secondly, guiding the guests’ movements also helps the hotels re-orient the places for events to enhance the flow. They include revolutionary techniques that help organizations manage space and other resources more effectively, thus improving guest experiences in hospitality. With the application of Indoor Wayfinding Technology, hotel providers can plan and schedule events that bring enjoyment and less stress.

7. Real-Time Feedback and Service Improvement

Feedback forms are no longer the only way in which the satisfaction of guests can be estimated. Currently, Indoor Wayfinding Technology provides hotels instant feedback on guest experience in hospitality. For example, if a guest spends much time at the reception, the staff can act promptly. It is also crucial to monitor the guest experience in real-time to improve guest experience in hospitality and determine where there might be a problem.

More than 40% of the guests provide positive feedback to the establishments that are quick to respond and are always ready to help. When solving problems as and when they arise, it is easier for the hotels to ensure that the customers leave with a positive attitude. The positive aspects are helpful in real-life scenarios as people receive instant feedback regarding a specific process, allowing them to minimize the negative effects as much as possible. Therefore, the guests’ general satisfaction level will be enhanced because several issues will be addressed immediately.

Furthermore, the information that customers offer during these interactions can be used to improve the quality of services and operations, therefore improvement. Implementing real-time feedback technology puts hotels at the forefront of guest service regarding expectations already present in the market. It also makes it possible for the specific guests to be treated in a specific manner depending on their immediate reaction. Finally, this kind of proactive strategy builds up loyal guests, invites them to visit the hotel again and enhances the image of the hotel in a rather competitive industry.

8. Personalized Marketing and Offers

The implementation of location wayfinding technology is changing hospitality marketing since it offers new ways to engage guests. Studying guests’ behaviours in a facility allows the hotels to address each client with suitable promotions and services. For example, if the guest comes to the spa often, the hotel can give them a discount for their next visit. Specific advertising of this nature not only gives the guests the feeling that they are appreciated but also brings the guest experience in hospitality to another level.

People like to be valued and when they feel that the hotel has accepted their preferred mode of stay, this will lead to loyalty. Hence, guests are encouraged to revisit the business and customer relations are enhanced. However, personalized marketing is not only about coupons and discounts because it is a much broader concept. They can be invited to different events, given gifts on their birthdays, or receive notifications about special services the hotels offer.

Such endeavors enhance guests’ interest, hence increasing their satisfaction and likelihood of recommending the place. In general, Indoor Wayfinding Technology, as well as other advanced technology used in the hospitality industry, can help solve many problems and make a hotel an unparalleled place for guests, which, in turn, contributes to people’s desire to come back. Personalized marketing assists a business in recovering and maintaining guests and building long-term relationships crucial for a business to survive in the hospitality industry.

9. Data-Driven Decision Making

Location wayfinding technology is valuable in capturing details about business data that can be used for managerial purposes within the hospitality industry. The type of information obtained from the movement and flow of guests in the hotel assists the management in determining the number of employees, amenities and services to provide. For instance, if data shows guests are likely to congregate around the pool in the afternoon, management might hire more personnel or offer services such as a pool bar.

Similarly, suppose wayfinding technology reveals that guests mostly use the hotel gym in the morning. In that case, hiring more staff to attend to them or extending service hours to meet the demand is possible. Also, suppose it is clear that guests visit specific places of interest near the hotel. In that case, the hotel may arrange transport services or establish business cooperation with such places of interest.

Such an approach enables hotels to manage their operations effectively, save resources and enhance service delivery, thus improving guests’ experience in hospitality. With the help of data analytics, hotels will strengthen their positions in the market, improve their image and guarantee sustainable profitability.

Conclusion

Indoor Wayfinding Technology revolutionizes hospitality solutions, enabling hotels to provide tailored, efficient and memorable experiences. Its capacity to deliver better navigation services, avert security issues, or even upgrade guest satisfaction has created a new shift. Well, what are you waiting for, then? Call Mapsted today to get your hospitality business’s latest Indoor Wayfinding Technology to improve guests’ satisfaction in hospitality. If you found this blog helpful, don’t miss our blog post on What Is Heat Mapping and How Can It Help Your Business? or watch our video on Explore Mapsted’s Location-Based Technology Solutions for Forward-Thinking Businesses to learn more.