Travel trend small hotels should watch — Virtual Reality

Travel is based around creating amazing experiences. And helping guests live that experience has never been more important in 2017.

In the last couple of years hotels have adopted virtual reality as a way to enrich the booking experience. They can be an extremely effective marketing tool to help travellers imagine a hotel before guests even arrive.

From their computer screens, guests can see a 360 degree view of a hotels’ rooms, lobby and grounds.

It’s opening a whole new world for guests who now seek in-depth information before they make a decision.

Virtual reality is setting a new industry standard in travel. Many hotels are now using the technology to better inform, entertain and sell to guests with great success.

Hotels would do well to implement, or at the very least consider this latest development.

Virtual Reality Stats

• 73% of entrepreneurs expect that VR will be used to assist in the decision-making process for travel related decisions such as destination or hotel choices
• 61% see the potential of VR and AR in a travel context
• A survey by Statista Digital Market Outlook in Germany revealed 62% of travellers would consider VR as a tool for holiday planning
• 49% would only use it if it’s free
• 13% would be willing to pay for it
• Of the MENASA market, 51% of respondents from 21 countries said VR is the most appealing technological concept to aid their travel booking process
• 64% are willing to travel to a store with the technology
• A third confirmed they would book their next holiday following a positive VR experience in store
• 71% were prepared to download travel specific VR content to their devices

How can hotels leverage this data?

Create VR experiences to sell

With guests taking an interest in VR technology, its most obvious use is during the education phase of the booking experience.

Consider investing in 360 videos to capture every room and communal space at your hotel. Include these interactive images on your website and promote them on social media.

Best Western Hotels and Resorts will soon be launching this same strategy across its 2200 hotels in North America. The 360 e ect is slowly jumping ahead traditional photos in terms of immersing and influencing guests towards a booking.

By adopting this hyper-visualised experience before the rest of the industry catches up, you’ll delight guests and gain the upper hand.

Create VR experiences to entertain

VR doesn’t have to be all about marketing directly. It can also offer the entertainment aspect while guests are staying at your hotel.

In 2015, the Marriott tested a new program called VRoom Service at two hotels in New York and London. The hotels offered Samsung Gear VR headsets to guests for 24 hours so they could travel the world through virtual Goggles.

Each three minute video was narrated by a traveller visiting aspiring locations. Guests could explore and live the surroundings straight from their hotel room.

The pilot program immerses guests in a virtual storytelling experience, adding a whole new dimension to their stay.

Are VR headsets something you could offer at your hotel to give guests the surprise element?

Leveraging this technology now can make your hotel a talking point, help guests encompass a connected travelling experience and virtually visit places they’ve never been before.