After two years of restricted travel due to the pandemic, people's appetite for travel is higher now than ever. It's not whether we want to travel that's changed, but how we travel. Today’s travelers prefer self-service to be waited on and waiting to be served, with tech-enabled convenience expected at every step of the process. These expectations are driving the tech revolution forward in the hospitality sector. Good companies are already meeting evolving demands, and the best companies have implemented these novelties before becoming trendy.

1. Going contactless is at the top of the list. This includes everything from self-check-in, mobile keys, in-room technology, and digital payments, which increased by 66% during the pandemic, according to the Stayntouch/NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality Report. These digital security measures keep you safe while enjoying tailored services.

2. Digital concierge (or chatbot concierge) services are shifting from luxury to necessity. Not only do they make the guest experience more interactive and customized, but they also streamline 24/7 services.

3. Location-based services offer travelers instant local experiences, resources, and information. Likewise, through location-sharing options, hotels can share special offers with guests, send notifications when they're near the hotel spa, or bring water to a guest's room post-workout, while at the same time coordinating staff for quicker response times to guest requests.

4. IoT for room control and customization and short-term rentals are installed in each room. IoT tech is explicitly designed to tailor the guest experience to suit their exact needs, such as room temperature or lighting — or even to anticipate them before the guest arrives. Imagine coming home after a night out to a room set to a cozy 22 degrees, with the bedside lamp and aromatic diffuser already switched on for you.

Le Bijou stands out because we started implementing these innovations long ago and now our apartments can be operated without any staff.

Visit the Le Bijou website at lebijou.com to discover how you can experience these and more hospitality innovations with us.