The recovery of the hotel sector depends on the good use of technology
At GuestPro we wanted to take the pulse of the hotel industry and we attended the TecnoHotel Forum held last week at the CCIB in Barcelona. Technology and hospitality during two days of frenetic activity that served to prove that the sector is ready to take off after the pandemic.
Smiles, complicity and joy, in general, ran through the corridors of the CCIB where the attendees did not hide their eagerness to meet again. Some even confessed the excitement they had felt when they took a plane to Barcelona to attend the meeting. These have been difficult times for the sector and the desire to return to "normality" is noticeable.
The presentations and round tables brought together a large number of professionals from the technology and hotel sector who debated how to face the new post-pandemic challenges, mainly on topics such as hotel distribution, digitalisation, direct sales vs. OTAs, marketing and revenue. It was undoubtedly a perfect opportunity to take the pulse of the sector again and get back in touch with clients, partners and friends. Networking was another key feature of the event, moments to meet again over coffee, meals, afterwork... to catch up and look for ways of collaboration.
We take note!
The GuestPro team that attended the event tried to be present at the maximum number of presentations and round tables to take note of the challenges that the future holds for us.
Here is what struck us the most:
- The crisis has provided us with a test laboratory from which to learn in record time.
- In technology we have advanced in one year what we would have done in 10.
- We highlight the increase in the local market and the use of mobile phones.
- Importance of data: analysis and interpretation to establish strategies.
- The hotel must work coherently and in the long term in order to be clear about what type of establishment it wants to be.
- Online reputation and customer relations are fundamental: we must use the information we have to improve the customer experience.
- The importance of technology to compete, have a great hotel, work on the experience yes, but do not forget the technology we have. "Look for a good technological partner".
- Train the team, without training we will not be successful, digitise daily operations, connect employees.
- Direct selling is here to stay, let's keep working to understand customer behaviour.
- The importance of marketing: why - how - what.
These are some of the notes we took during these days, but if we have to summarise what we have learned in this TecnoHotel Forum in just one idea, it is the importance of the relationship between Hotel and Technology, looking for a technological partner that accompanies, advises, helps, understands and pushes the hotelier in his recovery and to face the new challenges posed by a post pandemic era that promises to be very positive for the sector and that will reward those who do not give up on their dreams.
