“How can I help you?” has long been the check-in desk opening line. But these days, as our lives, values, and reasons for travel have all blended together in the wake of the pandemic, the more relevant question is coming from hotel guests themselves: “What can you do for me?” In response, the hospitality world is channeling its resources to adapt to work-life trends, sustainability expectations, and personalized technology—and to operate in cleaner, smarter, more flexible ways that intuitively say, “I get you.”.
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By now, guests are used to signs recommending they reuse towels and forgo bedsheet changes. Today, hotels are adding to these basic sustainability initiatives and taking on more responsibility. Globally, more than 20,000 participate in the Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking Index to rank their carbon, energy, and water efficiencies. The latest Cornell report, issued in 2021, shows an almost 10 percent reduction in overall carbon emissions from 2017 to 2019.
When Six Senses Svart opens in Norway next year, travelers checking into the futuristic hotel will learn it was built on stilts above the Holandsfjorden to minimize the impact on the land and seabed. The property aims to capture enough energy from solar power and geothermal wells to cover daily operations and return excess energy to the grid. Populus, opening in Denver next year, will generate “‘Larbon-positive” emissions (meaning it will offset more carbon than emits) while gaining efficiency through architect Jeanne Gang’s -aspen tree-inspired perforated exterior, which shades the interior.
Discover the future of hotels and how it will change the way we travel. From high-tech amenities and eco-friendly practices to personalized experiences and innovative designs, hotels are evolving to meet the changing needs and expectations of modern travelers. With the rise of new technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality, the hotel experience is becoming more immersive and interactive than ever before. Sustainability and social responsibility are also becoming increasingly important as hotels adopt eco-friendly practices and embrace the local community. The future of hotels promises to offer travelers more unique and personalized experiences, while also promoting a more sustainable and responsible approach to travel.