Now that the pandemic is over and the global economy is improving, people are starting to travel again, many for the first time in years. The hotel room that they encounter today will likely be different from what they experienced some time ago.
Before, travelers had to make all requests and queries manually, either by calling room service or visiting the concierge to ask in person. Fortunately, these tasks are largely a relic of the past.
Thanks to the advent of generative artificial intelligence and the falling cost of computer processing power, travelers have access to a wide selection of AI-powered, consumer-facing devices. One of the most impressive is Aiello Voice Assistant, an AI voice assistant that can make your hotel stay more pleasant than ever.
To see just how useful AVA is, we will walk you through the day of a guest using it for the first time.
Arrival and room setup (2:00 pm)
After checking in, the guest finds the room beautiful, but a bit too warm and quiet. He proceeds to AVA, which is located on the bedside table. After selecting his preferred language, the device plays a welcome message from the hotel.
Now, the guest can ask AVA, either using touch inputs or voice commands, to lower the aircon temperature and play some jazz songs as background music. The guest is relieved he does not have to awkwardly fumble for a cumbersome remote control: He can instantly tailor his hotel environment to suit his needs whenever he wants.
Restaurant search (4:00 pm)
After unpacking, the guest is hungry and craving Japanese food. The guest does a Google search for Japanese restaurants nearby, but Google serves him recommendations that are half an hour away.
Frustrated, the guest turns to AVA. He asks the same query and is recommended a highly rated Japanese restaurant just around the corner. AVA’s recommendations are much more logical because it is powered by a custom knowledge graph database (GDB), which enables it to provide much more intelligent responses specific to the hotel, its industry, and its surrounding area.
Getting ready for dinner (5:30 pm)
Because AVA is voice-enabled, the guest multi-tasks: While dressing up for dinner, he asks for weather information. AVA responds that there is a slight chance of rain, so the guest uses the device to request room service for an umbrella, which is brought up to him in less than five minutes.
Post-dinner (8:00 pm)
After having his Japanese dinner, the guest is back in his room, eager to relax. He uses AVA to browse the amenities of the hotel. He sees an available spa service, and he books an appointment for a one-hour massage later that night.
The guest is surprised about this feature: While he has encountered other digital screens in hotels before, they have only provided information in the past. None have offered the ability to process requests directly through them, which is possible through AVA because it integrates with TMS Pro, Aiello’s Task Management System for hotel operations.
Delighted, the guest also orders a post-spa treat from the kitchen. Because the guest is lactose intolerant, he requests that there be no dairy products in the desert.
Hotel breakfast (8:00 am)
After waking up at 8:00 am – the guest was able to set an alarm through AVA – he does not feel like heading down to the breakfast buffet. He instead orders room service. While waiting for his order, the guest realizes that he forgot to remind the kitchen about his lactose intolerance. Remarkably, when the meal arrives, an item that is typically dairy has been switched with a suitable replacement – an example of the customization possible once a hotel deploys TMS Pro.
This level of customization spares guests the hassle of repeating important information to different staff, at different times, again and again. They can instead focus on relaxing.
Scheduled tour (10:00 am)
The guest is running late for his scheduled tour. He asks AVA where the meet-up point is in the city. In response, AVA provides not only the address, but also the estimated travel time to get there. Rather than call the reception and wait for someone to pick up the phone, the guest books a cab right through AVA. In less than five minutes, a cab arrives to bring him to the meet-up point.
The Wi-Fi analogy
At one point in time, not all cafes and coffee shops had Wi-Fi. Those that did had a competitive advantage: Customers would want to dine there, so they can use the internet for work and leisure as needed.
The same pattern is happening in hospitality. Hotels that come equipped with AVA will attract more guests, create longer stays, and generate greater revenue from their services and amenities. Guests know that AVA is not simply a device: It is a hub that transforms the guest experience, providing unprecedented levels of access and convenience.
