What is a contact-free hotel?
A contact-free hotel uses technology to streamline the guest experience, reducing the need for face-to-face interactions. The goal is to provide a seamless and efficient stay, catering to the growing preference for self-service.
Whether through smartphone apps, self-serve kiosks, or other digital tools, the contact-free concept empowers guests to manage their stay independently. While it became a prominent choice during the pandemic, it now focuses on enhancing efficiency, promoting sustainability, and integrating seamlessly with the digital world.
20 ideas to make your hotel contact-free
Whether you’re simply looking to modernize your property with more contact-free options or go fully contactless, here are the top 20 ideas to help you make it happen.
Virtual assistants
Picture a helpful assistant right in your room, ready to handle requests like ordering room service or scheduling housekeeping with just a quick chat. Virtual assistants make it easy to take care of your needs without leaving your room. They’re also great for answering pre-trip questions about check-in times and hotel amenities, making your stay smoother from the start.
Digital concierge
A digital concierge allows guests to use the power of contact-free mobile apps to manage their stay and take advantage of all the comforts and conveniences they are looking for. Digital concierge puts the hotel experience directly into the hands of guests, while also taking repetitive and low-value tasks away from your staff.
Smart rooms
Smart rooms bring all your contact-free tech together in one place. With features like mobile check-in and check-out, voice-activated controls, in-room tablets, and automated climate and lighting, they make your stay effortlessly convenient. Add in contactless payment solutions, digital room service, and automated housekeeping, and smart rooms offer a prime way to enjoy a seamless, contact-free hotel experience.
Motion sensors
Motion sensors automatically turn off lights when a room or hallway is empty, saving electricity and cutting down on physical contact since there's no need to manually switch them off.
Cashless payments
Cashless and mobile payments make for a truly contact-free hotel experience. With digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, guests can easily pay for in-hotel services without exchanging cash or using touch card readers. Another way to facilitate cashless payments is through pre-payment and automated billing at the end of the stay.
Guest apps
Guest apps are at the heart of any hotel contact-free experience Think of them as your guest’s personal command center for managing their stay. From requesting services to accessing hotel information, everything they need is right there, eliminating the need to depend on staff for every little thing.
Digital ordering
Digital ordering brings convenience to dining at your hotel. Guests can place orders from their rooms using the app or from a tablet at the restaurant. Whether it’s food, drinks, or leaving a tip, everything can be handled without pulling out a wallet, making for a smooth, contact-free experience.
Leveraging smartphones
Smartphones are the key to a contactless hotel experience. They’re your hub for hotel apps, mobile check-ins, check-outs, and even handle service requests through digital concierge. Now, they also enable keyless entry, so every part of your stay can be managed from a device.
Mobile check-in and check-out
Mobile check-in and check-out are excellent ways to reduce wait times at the front desk, enhancing satisfaction for both employees and guests. These features also minimize the need for physical contact. With mobile check-in, guests can enter their details and even create room keys without stopping by the front desk. At the end of their stay, they can settle bills and notify the hotel of their departure directly from their smartphones.
Digital keys and keyless entry
As mentioned, digital keys and keyless entry can make the experience fully contactless. Guests can access their room key from the mobile app, scanning it at the hotel entry and again at their rooms. This reduces the risk of losing keys and of theft, because duplicating a digital key is way more difficult.
Biometrics
Biometrics and face ID offer a secure and contactless way to access hotel rooms, the pool, spa, or any restricted area. These technologies enhance security while minimizing the need for physical touchpoints.
Self-service kiosks
Self-service kiosks provide a stress-free, contactless option for guests to check in, check out, and manage their needs. They not only ease the workload on the front desk but also empower guests to handle tasks on their own.
Voice controls
Voice controls minimize contact within a room by eliminating the need to touch remotes or light switches. They give guests control over their in-room experience, from adjusting the temperature and dimming the lights to playing music, all with simple voice commands.
Tablets in-room
With in-room tablets, guests can easily control various in-room functions and access services on their own.
Robots
Robots might seem a little far-fetched, but they’re actually a fantastic way to enhance a contactless experience for your guests. Whether it’s delivering food, bringing extra towels or amenities, or even vacuuming when staff aren’t available, these handy helpers ensure your hotel stays spotless with minimal effort.
Virtual reality
Virtual reality can give potential guests a great idea of your hotel’s installations without them having to step foot in your hotel. This not only reduces contact, but also boosts guest satisfaction, seeing as they know exactly what to expect when they arrive.
Collect guest feedback
Gone are the days of handing out paper forms to collect guest feedback. Now, you can simply send a link online after check-out or use short push notification surveys during their stay to catch any issues early. It’s a quick, contactless way to connect with your guests and gather their valuable feedback.
Digital signs
Digital signs are a great way to offer interactive services, like displaying schedules, menus, directions, and announcements, without any need for physical interaction. Since these signs can be updated remotely, you can ensure that the latest information is always available to keep your guests informed.
Online reservations for amenities
Why call the front desk when you can request amenities with just a few clicks? Guests can now easily request what they need online, and have it delivered right to their door—no physical interaction required.
Digital communication channels
Digital communication channels are a perfect way for guests to get the information they need without any face-to-face interaction. They also allow you to keep your guests in the loop, providing regular updates on events, offers, and important information.
Automated mini bars
Automated mini bars are another way to reduce contact. With sensor technology, they can detect when an item has been removed, so that the system automatically records consumption without the need for staff to check regularly. They can also do automatic billing.
The steps to becoming a contact-free hotel
If you have the right property management system, it’s entirely possible (and actually quite easy) to have a fully contact-free hotel. Eliminating any touch points for guests allows them to take full control of their stay, upping convenience, efficiency, health and safety, and privacy, among other things. At Mews, here’s what you can expect from a contact-free experience.
Pre-arrival
The contact-free experience begins before your guests have even arrived at your property. It’s important to consider this part of the journey because it lays the foundation for everything that happens once guests arrive. This is where automation begins and helps you to eliminate any unnecessary administration and paperwork during their stay.
Mews Online check-in lets guests check-in from the comfort of their own homes, before they even step out of their door. You’re able to capture important guest details and credit card information, meaning they shouldn’t need to fill in any details once they arrive.
- Automate and process payments before guests arrive
- Eliminate manual settlements with automated payments throughout the guest’s stay
Arrival
Meeting your guests for the first time is crucial.
Some guests will value a more traditional welcome than others, and if you’re keen to please everyone it’s great to offer a choice of arrival experiences, such as meeting face to face or using a contact-free solution. You can easily achieve the latter through Mews check-in kiosk.
Mews Kiosks are one way of ensuring a guest can go almost immediately to their room. There’s no need to stand in line in order to fill out forms, and guests can even book additional products and services.
- Allow guests to check in simply by entering their confirmation number and last name
- Reduce queues and wait times
- Integrate with all major key cutters and door lock solutions, eliminating unnecessary touch points
Digital Key can also be set up during online check-in for immediate room access. With identity being verified at that time, room keys are sent directly to guests’ devices in time for arrival, eliminating the need for staff support. Traveling with a group? No problem. Guests can share their keys via WhatsApp, iMessage, SMS, and other messaging platforms.
- Allow guests to have immediate room access upon arrival
- Automate repetitive tasks and arrival admin to save staff time
- Reduce the security risks and costs associated with lost or broken key cards.
During the stay
Once a guest is checked in, they’re in your care.
The Mews virtual concierge lets guests send direct messages to your team, meaning there’s no need for them to walk to reception or use a different phone. It’s a great way to schedule services like food deliveries (which can be left safely outside the guest’s door), or ask questions about the amenities.
Mews Operations gives your housekeeping team the technology to work more safely and efficiently. The app enables your staff to work on digitally assigned spaces and provide real-time progress updates via a phone or tablet. This means that teams can communicate their location, and there’s no longer a need for any paper records that need to be handed over.
- Provide personal guest and staff communication through two-way messaging
- Eliminate unnecessary touchpoints
Departure
The final step of the contact-free journey is when your guests check out. The last thing you want is to undo all your good work throughout their stay by making guests queue at reception to take care of admin that could be automated and done via their phone.
Mews Online check-out lets guests settle their bill online and choose their time of departure from a link on their phone. The room will be automatically checked out in the system at the selected time, meaning that housekeeping will know when it’s safe to clean the room.
- Eliminate physical touchpoints at reception as all guests need to do is drop off their keys
- Get real-time notifications when guests check out, meaning more efficient housekeeping
- Send automated ‘thank you’ emails with promo codes for their next stay and ask for reviews to encourage future guests to stay
Go contact-free
It wasn’t just during the pandemic that guests craved contact-free experiences—it’s now part of the new normal. Going contact-free allows guests to take control of their journey while freeing up your staff to focus on delivering even more remarkable experiences. Download our free guide to going contact-free and discover the simple steps you can take.
Setting up a contact-free hotel is easy to do with Mews. If you’d like to know more about our contact-free features, simply book a demo and we’ll be happy to talk you through them.
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