TECHNOLOGY
Handsfree
CONTACTLESS TECHNOLOGY IS NOW A NECESSITY FOR DAILY OPERATIONS .
By KATHAKALI NANDI
I t ’ s not new , but it ’ s essential . Hoteliers had already dabbled with contactless solutions at their properties before the pandemic , it was just accelerated in the aftermath . Though some features , such as self check-in , ordering food and cashless payment existed , many hotels ’ apps now have unique and customizable options .
Consider citizenM , the tech-centric , Netherlands-based brand . It has been exploring contactless solutions long before 2020 . This helped the company fast-track and deploy it effectively early into the pandemic . The company has been making upgrades to its existing platform ever since .
The foundation of citizenM ’ s contactless platform is its citizenM app , which has been improved to enable check-in and even control guest-room functions , such as lighting , entertainment and shades , all from a smartphone . The primary goal of contactless technology is to streamline and improve the guest experience . The app empowers guests to minimize personal contact , but it ’ s only one part of it .
“ The real benefit is that our guests have a unique level of control over their experience . They have the opportunity for
84 hotelsmag . com September 2023