The pandemic has strained most industries, but few have encountered challenges as foundational as those faced by the hospitality industry. Hotels have adapted as best they could to all-time-low demand, while positioning themselves for recovery and the new normal of the industry – a future in which technology will play a key role at every level.

The good news is that the hospitality industry was already a leader in digital transformation. With the right technology infrastructure, hotels are ready to welcome a new era focused around experience, optimization, and safety.

At Deep Blue Communications and Comcast Business, we’ve been committed to helping hotels chart their path forward. Here are some of the advancements that hotels are implementing:

Minimizing “touch” in guest stays

Many hotels have already implemented measures like keyless entry to guest rooms by enabling customers to use their phones to unlock doors. This type of touchless customer experience is expected to permeate every part of the hotel. From check-in and taking the elevator to your floor, to controlling the in-room TV and paying your folio, guests will be able to control nearly every part of their stay from their mobile device or with voice controls.

IoT-enabled cleaning protocols

Hotels are taking cleanliness to new levels, and ensuring compliance with health protocol across thousands of rooms needs to be done through real-time monitoring and reporting. From electrostatic disinfecting instruments and handheld, network-connected UV sanitizing lights to autonomous cleaning robots and hand sanitizer stations that alert staff when product is low, the health standards in hotels will approach the realm of those we see in hospital settings. IoT devices will allow hotels to evolve from cleanliness best practices to standardized, automated procedures.

Smart guest rooms

It’s likely that social distancing measures will be in place for some time, so guests are likely to spend more time in their hotel rooms. Even guests coming to the hotel for a conference may wish to stay in their room and stream sessions happening in the conference space downstairs or hold video conference calls with colleagues back home. That will require guest rooms that are comfortable, dynamic, and offer the same types of connectivity customers are used to at home.

A strong foundation

All of these advances, of course, will require a strong network that can handle spikes in bandwidth, connect the front of the house to operations, and enable real-time data for analytics and compliance audits.

Important hospitality network considerations include bandwidth, reliable connectivity, and support of protocols such as WiFi 6/6E, to support investments in the smart hotel and the implementation of Internet of Things technology. The industry will be bringing more devices on to the network to support new health and convenience requirements. This network must also support new standards in WiFi such as WiFi6/6E to enable a nearly touchless experience. WiFi 6/6E will provide a strong platform will ensure the long-term management, performance, control, and security of the network. Hotels already embraced the use of mobile phones for checking in, checking out, room entry and industry watchers expect the demand for touchless capabilities to only increase.

Learn more about how you can optimize property management, contain costs, and create a memorable stay for your guests with innovative technologies from Comcast Business