How Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are Redefining Hospitality Industry?

The hospitality industry has undergone drastic changes over the past few years through the incorporation of complex technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Customer experiences, marketing strategies, and operational efficacies in hospitality interactions are now gearing toward innovational solutions with these technologies. This blog will deliver the  

Virtual Reality as a Marketing Tool

Businesses are increasingly finding the enormous scope of Virtual Reality (VR) as a marketing tool. The possibility of enabling customers to experience products and services in an immersive mode triggers a heap of feelings, which go long to the gills. While many VR applications are centered on entertainment, the hospitality sector has been aware of its importance in conveying vital information to potential customers more interestingly and credibly. 

VR in Hospitality:

• Whereas in hospitality, customer decision-making criteria normally involve looking at many alternatives before making a hotel room choice, the VR experience helps mitigate this by offering a 'try before you buy' experience. Customers can explore virtual recreations of hotel rooms, amenities, or even attractions that can be seen nearby. For instance, they might virtually walk through deluxe suites or examine conference facilities to ensure expectations match real life.
• This immersive experience not only builds customer confidence but also reduces the chances of post-booking dissatisfaction. Hotels using VR offer actual previews to potential guests of their offerings, a strategy that has worked for ages in the food and retail industries. 
   

Improving Customer Experience On Site:

The utility of VR does not start and end with the booking process. Once a guest arrives at the hotel, they can use VR to give virtual tours of nearby attractions, enhance knowledge of local culture, or even deliver on-site entertainment. Through the enrichment of the entire customer journey, VR contributes toward a memorable stay.

 
Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Hospitality

Although adoption in the hospitality industry remains in its infancy stages, the impact already bestowed is profound. AI has been used to reinforce customer service, improve internal operations, and maximize data-based decision-making processes. 
1) Customer Service in Person:
AI-based robots have started to offer in-branch customer service. One such example is Hilton Hotels' AI-fueled robot 'Connie.' The tourist information from Connie is learned during the interactions and advanced in its response over time. Technology like this complements human employees: they cater to simple questions, which frees up human employees for more complex roles.
2) Chatbots and Messaging:
AI chatbots have revolutionized online customer service. These bots provide instant responses to inquiries through websites or social media platforms, ensuring 24/7 availability. Hotels benefit from this capability by offering consistent and prompt customer support, which is difficult to maintain with human agents alone. From answering simple queries to assisting with bookings, AI-powered chat systems enhance user satisfaction and streamline service delivery. 
3) Data Analysis:
AI thrives on data analyses to draw actionable insights. Based on the analysis of surveys, reviews, and booking patterns, AI can analyze customer preferences, trace flaws in the areas, and predict trends. This can be helpful for hotels in terms of personalized services, optimized marketing campaigns, and better operational efficiency. 

Applications of Virtual Reality Uses in Hospitality
 

1) Virtual Travel Experiences
Virtual travel experiences enable consumers to discover destinations from the comfort of their own homes. Using 360-degree video technology, a traveler can virtually "visit" their desired location, preview their flights or popular attractions, and develop an interest in booking a trip. 
2) Virtual Hotel Tours:
Hotels these days carry virtual tours on their website, where guests can explore every room, lobby, or even the facilities. These have ensured that guests could decide wisely- thus higher booking conversion rates- with access to VR headsets or 360-degree video platforms, such as Facebook.
3) Virtual Booking Processes:
Amadeus is one company that even integrates VR to book procedures. Flights are compared, prices for hotel rooms are browsed, and rooms are booked directly through VR headsets. Value to decision making.

 
Augmented Reality (AR) in Hospitality

AR technology supplements VR by overlaying digital information onto the physical world. Some of the applications of AR in hospitality are diverse and impactful. 
1) Augmented Hotel Environments:
Hotels like Holiday Inn employ AR in the creation of rich, interactive experiences: letting guests view virtual versions of celebrities or cartoon characters. It is through these features that a stay becomes enjoyable, especially for families. 
2) Gamification:
Being motivated by successful AR games such as Pokémon Go, hotels have started developing their very own AR-based experiences for guests. Some of them include treasure hunts or exploring local landmarks through AR-enabled apps that add a fun layer of interaction while visiting the same.
3) Interactive Hotel Rooms:
In-room experience enhancement-AR-companies are incorporated into the hotels. For example, The Hub Hotel by Premier Inn uses wall maps which, through scanning with a smartphone, provide extra information about various attractions around. This enriches the guest experience and gives them valuable information at their fingertips.

Why Invest in VR and AI for Hospitality?
 

The adoption of VR and AI provides several benefits to hospitality businesses:

• Enhance Customer Experience: The Immersive and interactive technologies leave a long-lasting impression, thereby increasing customer loyalty. 
• Streamline Operations: By automating manual loads to develop staff competency in the delivery of excellent service. 
• Improve marketing ROI: VR helps infuse experiential marketing, thereby raising bookings.  AI personalizes campaigns for higher returns on investments. 
• Save Cost: Automation of routine tasks with AI reduces labor costs, yet maintains good service standards. 

 
Future of Technology in Hospitality

• The emerging technologies are potentially reshaping hospitality in enormous ways. As these technologies continue to evolve, they will be at the forefront of shaping how hotels interact with guests, enhance experiences, and maintain a competitive edge through virtual reality booking processes and AI-powered robots. 
• Osiz Technologies is a leading AI development company and a premier provider in VR development services, assists you to completely change your hospitality business by helping you with the most immersive VR applications for your hospitality business, all the way to cutting-edge AI-driven customer service solutions. Stay ahead in this competitive hospitality landscape by integrating such innovative technologies into your hospitality today.