Key Takeaways
- The real luxury in modern hotels is technology that fades into the background and removes friction from the guest experience
- Power availability and placement are crucial, with a focus on flexible and adaptable solutions that don’t lock guests into specific connectors or technologies
- Fast, reliable, and free Wi-Fi is essential for modern travelers, and should be assumed rather than treated as an amenity
- Hotels should prioritize practical design, including desks that work like desks, task lighting, and glare control
- Automation should be optional and intuitive, with physical switches and clear labels still mattering
- Sustainability features should be invisible and work quietly in the background, without asking guests to change their behavior
Introduction to Hotel Technology
The concept of the "smart room" has been a focus for hotels in recent years, with many properties incorporating tablets, voice assistants, and QR codes into their guest experience. However, the outcome of these efforts is often frustrating for guests, who expect technology to make their stay easier and more convenient, not more complicated. The best hotel tech is invisible, quietly removing friction and letting guests focus on why they’re traveling in the first place. With the blurring of lines between work and leisure, hotel rooms are increasingly expected to serve as offices, video call studios, and recovery spaces, making technology that supports these uses without becoming another system to manage.
The Importance of Power and Placement
Power is no longer a nice-to-have in hotels, but a basic expectation. However, availability isn’t enough – placement matters. Travelers arrive with multiple devices that need charging, and hotels must provide flexible and adaptable solutions that don’t lock guests into specific connectors or technologies. With the rapid evolution of technology, hotels can’t realistically renovate or retrofit rooms every few years to keep up with the latest standards. Instead, they should focus on providing standard outlets, easily accessible power strips, and universal sockets that allow guests to use their own devices and chargers without workarounds or compromises.
The Role of Wi-Fi in the Guest Experience
Wi-Fi is no longer an amenity, but a fundamental aspect of the guest experience. Fast, reliable, and free Wi-Fi should be assumed, and hotels that charge extra for this service are out of touch with modern travelers’ needs. Captive portals and VPNs should work seamlessly, and video calls and uploads should be smooth and uninterrupted. Hotels that understand the importance of Wi-Fi rarely talk about bandwidth or speeds, but instead focus on ensuring that everything works effortlessly and reliably.
Practical Design for the Modern Traveler
A decorative desk is not a workspace, and hotels must provide functional and comfortable areas for guests to work. This includes sufficient space, light, and power, as well as task lighting and glare control. Smart controls should be optional and intuitive, with physical switches and clear labels still mattering. The goal is to provide the right amount of automation, paired with the ability to override it easily, rather than maximum automation that can be frustrating and prescriptive.
Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is no longer optional, but guests shouldn’t have to think about it. Motion-based climate control, smart sensors, and efficient systems can reduce energy use without asking travelers to change their behavior. When done well, sustainability works quietly in the background, and hotels should prioritize intent over cost-cutting measures. The difference comes down to whether the technology is designed to save energy and preserve comfort, or simply to reduce costs.
Removing Friction Beyond the Room
The guest experience doesn’t start at the door, and hotels can improve the check-in and checkout process with mobile keys, kiosks, and streamlined policies. Technology works best when it reduces conversations that shouldn’t need to happen, without removing access to human help when it’s actually needed. By focusing on practical design and removing friction, hotels can create a seamless and effortless experience that lets guests focus on why they’re traveling in the first place.
Case Studies in Practical Design
A recent business trip to a conference highlighted the importance of practical design in hotels. A room that was more like an apartment was unnecessary, as the guest only needed a bed and a place to recharge their devices. In contrast, hotels like The Mosser and Yotel prioritize simplicity and practicality, providing guests with what they need and removing what they don’t. Yotel’s automation starts with arrival, with self-service kiosks and mobile-first check-in that compress the most frustrating part of travel into a quick and predictable flow. The hotel’s design philosophy is simple: provide what guests actually use and remove what they don’t, extending beyond rooms into shared workspaces and policies designed to reduce friction.
The Quiet Advantage of Well-Designed Hotels
The most tech-forward hotels may not look futuristic at all, but instead feel calm and effortless. Nothing breaks, and nothing demands attention. For modern travelers, especially those blending work and travel, this is the real luxury. Not more screens or apps, but a space that works the way they do, without getting in the way. By prioritizing practical design, removing friction, and providing technology that fades into the background, hotels can create a truly exceptional guest experience that meets the evolving needs of modern travelers.
