IoT stands for Internet of Things. The word “things” seems vague, but it simply encompasses any device connected to the internet for the purpose of controlling a process, collecting data or exchanging information with another device.
Examples of IoT devices range from consumer devices enabled smart lighting installed in an automated office Space. No matter the industry, smart buildings enabled with IoT solutions are known for providing greater efficiency, customization and comfort to occupants and guests.
What Are Smart Hotels?
In a smart hotel, IoT-connected devices are leveraged in order to create a better guest experience and a streamlined hotel management system for staff and administrators. The hospitality industry presents many opportunities to use automation solutions to enhance smart hotel rooms. Guests enjoy greater convenience and comfort, and hotel owners and operators benefit from increased efficiency, cost savings and guest satisfaction.
What Is Smart Room Technology?
The goal of an IoT hotel room is to provide guests with greater control over the environment. When visitors stay in a smart room, they have convenient options for controlling and automating various settings for lights, thermostats, door locks and more. Connected hotels with smart hotel rooms are popping up across the world, and innovators are continuously developing and improving IoT technology in the hospitality industry.
4 Benefits of Smart Hotel Rooms
1. Smart Rooms and Guest Comfort
One of the main benefits of smart hotel rooms is the opportunity to positively impact guest comfort and convenience. When visitors encounter IoT applications in what would typically be a standard hotel room, their overall experience is enhanced. Customized IoT solutions for hotels include devices such as smart lighting guests can control with an app on their phones or a smart thermostat guests can program for maximum comfort during the night or daytime.
2. Increased Safety and Security With Smart Rooms
Automated smart door locks are one great security feature possible with an IoT hotel room. Instead of using a key that could be lost or stolen, guests staying in smart rooms with IoT-enabled door locks can use a secure app on their phone to unlock their hotel room’s door.
Hotel safety isn’t just about guest rooms. When a smart hotel is equipped with IoT security solutions, the whole building can be protected using customized programs and protocol settings. IoT platforms, such as Nexos by Igor, enable users to create programs for connected devices. In the event of a security breach, programming is dispatched to devices instantaneously, triggering door locks, emergency lights and more.
3. Improved Maintenance Processes
Hotel owners and building maintenance staff benefit greatly from the data collection possible with IoT hotel rooms. For example, IoT-enabled sensors can provide real-time data about individual rooms — data such as occupancy information, lighting and energy consumption, plumbing systems and water usage.
Hotel housekeeping staff could utilize occupancy sensors to determine when a guest room or conference room has been vacated and is ready to be cleaned. Other sensors can monitor electricity usage and maintenance needs like burnt out lightbulbs or plumbing leaks.
4. Smart Room Sustainability Solutions
As mentioned above, IoT-enabled sensors can revolutionize smart hotel processes and systems. Connected hotels are unmatched in their potential for enhanced sustainability. When an occupancy sensor detects a vacant room, IoT-connected devices can automatically make energy-efficient adjustments such as dimming or turning off lights and changing the temperature.
Plumbing sensors can detect and report leaks quickly so maintenance staff can fix them as soon as possible, minimizing the cost to repair damages. The collective cost savings from IoT-enabled smart hotel rooms can add up and save hotel owners precious operating capital in the long term.
