NFC: In the Hotel Industry, Next Comes VR, AR, and Metaverse

NFC technology was a way for hotels to enhance guest experience at their properties entwined with the newest technologies on the market.

What is NFC?

Do you know what NFC is? NFC stands for Near-Field Communications, an application used through mobile devices to transmit data at close proximity. Check out the picture below for a visual on how NFC works.

Source: Assabloy.com

NFC has proven thus far its abilities to enhance ways in which consumers make transactions, exchange content, connect to other devices and much more.

NFC is a fast, easy way to get relevant, useful information although it is not a constant stream of data because it requires physical interaction between user-operated data devices and the NFC tag or sticker. Furthermore, NFC tags are used as a canvas for accessible information on which any type of landing page can be programmed.

Creating NFC features and benefits on the property will encourage loyalty and give you a chance to have guests install your mobile app. And once that is installed, it will be another channel of direct communication with them.

NFC in the current marketplace:

Some of the common ways NFC technology is currently used by companies and consumers are payment checkout, sending files, photos, contacts, music, etc. to another device with a simple tap, downloading information, opening doors, getting tickets or passes and parking meters.

How can NFC benefit hotels?

This technology holds undiscovered uses, many of which can be incorporated into the lodging industry. Tags can be used in various ways at our hotels. 

Hotel keys can be directly transmitted by phone which in turn can increase the security of users.

The process of checkout can be made seamless through mobile device usage and contactless payment. 

NFC can be used to improve the process of accessing the hotel wifi without the use of passwords.

In addition, further interaction between client and customer can be made through the use of NFC by linking tags to Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and to review platforms, like TripAdvisor and Yelp.

How is Milestone going to help me utilize this technology?

One of the main benefits to NFC technology is that every tag can be customized individually to fit each hotel’s specific needs, interests, and unique selling point. This can range from specific hotel hosted events, special offers and packages, social media profiles, on-site hotel restaurants, spas, wedding/meeting venues, etc.

Furthermore, hotel guests can take away information about the hotel from interaction with NFC tags. They can store it on their devices for a later usage, sharing capabilities and fostering customer relationships which may result in customer retention and increase brand loyalty.

It is an evolving innovation that customers are showing interest in and willingness to use. If you are a hotel owner of a budget hotel, this technology can be implemented at the property-level as a value-based service, additional to the product they already offer.

Are any of my competitors already using it?

The Clarion Hotel in Stockholm Sweden was the first in the hotel industry to make use of this technology on site. They have completed a beta project featuring 28 loyal returning customers with whom they replaced hotel keys with NFC-enabled mobile phones.

Overall, the guests were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the interaction with the hotel via their mobile phones. The surveyed guests claimed they saved time during their check-in and overall stay compared to other hotel stays. They also agreed that the mobile key application has made their hotel stay more comfortable. Lastly, the surveyed guests showed interest in using the mobile keys application if their mobile phone supported it.

Hotel guests were also asked what kind of other services connected to the mobile key application would be successful, which included information about the hotel, such as a map, room service menus, spa and gym. The survey also included high interest in paying for food and other services at the hotel through the device as well as obtaining additional information about hotel offerings, restaurants, bars and public transport in the vicinity.

How exactly am I missing out if I am not using NFC?

If you are a hotel owner, you can ensure you do not miss out on the benefits of this new technology. It’s a sustainable practice as you eliminate costs for paper resources, such as location-based services, post purchase offers, and area maps, brochures, printed menus, etc. It gives you the availability to develop a better product and specialize it to meet your customers’ needs whether that be through hotel coupons or trends and events surrounding your property.

Milestone seeks to engage more hotel visitors by allowing hotels to adopt NFC into their properties and as a result encourage more customer interaction via mobile touchpoints to their website and social media channels.

Where can I learn more about it?

Find out more:

NFC Mobile Phones replace Hotel Keys

How Will NFC Impact the Hospitality Industry?

Evaluation of the world’s first pilot using NFC phones for check-in and hotel room keys

How will hotels operate in the metaverse or provide metaverse experiences?

Hotels on the cutting edge will develop virtual experiences to market real-world hotel experiences. The difference for them will be as dramatic as hotels that were ahead of the curve with websites and mobile apps. It will have a very positive impact on bookings and help shift share away from OTAs.

Further, hotels can create unique stay and travel experiences in the metaverse and sell those experiences and even mint NFTs and sell them to unique owners who could experience and resell them. NFTs are non-fungible tokens that verify and guarantee the uniqueness and history of an experience.

Learn more about how important the mobile experience has become in the hotel industry.

Milestone increases acquisition by enhancing digital experience and increasing content visibility. Contact us at sales@milestoneinternet.com or call us at 408-200-2211.