Hotel Industry in this Digital World – What will the Future Bring?

Abstract

Now, in 2014 it is hard to believe that once there was a life without touchscreen devices, “tweets” and “likes”, Wi-Fi or bandwidth problems. The explosion of Internet changed the entire world, speeded up the information flow and brought a new language and lifestyle into the weekdays.

The aim of this research is to introduce these changes, the current trends and the most remarkable technological achievements and their effects, first in general then focusing on the hotel industry. Are the technological-base services more beneficial than the traditional human touch? Could technology substitute a honest smile? The answers could be found also in this paper.

This study also introduces the findings whether a business would survive without online social networking in these days. It examines the power of social media, based on academic journals and real life experiences.

Nobody knows exactly, what the future brings but there are certain ways to find the right direction; or is the future unpredictable? What will be the future careers? Will robots be the substitutes of human beings?

General Managers of Restel Hotel Group in Helsinki area were asked what they thought about this digital life and what they expected from the future and the future hotel industry.

This study is built on referred academic journals, recently published articles, reports, books, videos and own experiences.