Reduced COVID cases have ushered in a new season of hope for the hospitality industry, and society is eager to get out and explore after a year of lockdown. Hotels now face the challenge of creating long-awaited memorable experiences while also continuing health and safety precautions. The big question at hand is: “How?”
Uptown Network has curated three simple solutions that hotels can implement quickly for safe, fun guest experiences:
1.) Contactless Check-in
Check-in packets are a great opportunity to offer guests convenience all from the comfort of their own phones. Contactless check-in packets allow guests to view up-to-date information about their stay quickly. Contact information for each amenity displays on the interactive touchless menus to help reserve spa days or book a table at their favorite restaurant within the hotel.
Contactless check-in packets also add enormous benefits for hotel staff by reducing printing costs and being easily updatable. Rather than reprinting information such as transportation schedules and safety mandate updates, hotel teams can provide real-time information to guests instantly throughout their entire stay.
2.) Loyalty & On-Premise Revenue with Digital Gifts
Virtual gifting is quickly becoming the new standard of gift-giving. Saying goodbye to outdated and impersonal plastic gift cards, businesses are using virtual gifting to offer customization that is unavailable with plastic gift cards.
Even so, traditional e-gift cards can make an even worse impression (“You didn’t even make time to run to the store to pick it up?”). With augmented reality alternatives such as Uptown Gifts, however, senders can choose their recipient’s favorite items and add custom touches such as video messages and event-specific wrapping paper. Where there’s a menu, there’s a way to add virtual gifting.
Hotels have the unique ability to make items such as hotel stays, spa treatments, and tee times giftable as well. This provides a new stream of revenue for the property while also drawing in guests that may otherwise not have taken full advantage of the services offered. Additionally, hotels can use virtual gifting as part of their loyalty program rewards or in their guest recovery initiatives. Guests will be thrilled with the new technology and experience. Bonus: Digital gift cards are contactless and easy to send.
3.) Digital Menus
Digital menus are a great tool for both your guests and staff. QR code menus received a lot of attention last year as an alternative to throwaway menus, but they continue to be a strong opportunity to allow guests to explore your amenities on the go. From on-site restaurants to specialty frozen drinks by the pool, guests benefit from having property dining information by their side as they work through their busy itineraries. This can also help speed up table turns by giving guests a chance to decide what they want before they arrive.
Digital menus are an effective way to keep guests on property, as well as harness the power of digital word of mouth. Through our integrated sharing capabilities, Uptown Network’s menus have been shared in all 50 states and over 70 countries to date. Reaching guests ahead of their stay is a great way to increase traffic to on-premise offerings.
iPad wine lists have also been shown to impress guests and increase sales. The designs look like menus, not technology, and provide tasting notes to help guests make informed decisions. iPad digital wine lists are easy to sanitize and update in real-time, opposite of the dated paper book-style wine lists. Grab guests’ attention during their stay with convenient and easy to use digital menus.
While many restaurants have decided to switch to 100% digital, another common trend is to implement a hybrid menu strategy: digital menus, QR code menus, and paper menus. Solid menu companies will allow you to manage all three in one place.
The benefits of going digital don’t stop here. Hotels are equipped to give guests a clean, informed stay while also creating exciting experiences. Uptown Network makes switching to digital easy, and we even offer full-service Member Services packages for greater data management needs. Learn more about Uptown Network’s hospitality solutions here.