The days of waiting in line in hotel lobbies might soon become a thing of the past. Ditto the necessity of talking to a real live human who works at the hotel. Hilton Worldwide that guests staying at its hotels will be able to check in and out via their mobile devices by the end of this year. The behemoth hospitality chain will also give potential visitors the opportunity to pick their rooms and will share photos and floor plans to help customers make more informed decisions when booking.
“For nearly a century, our guests have counted on us to consistently deliver exceptional experiences around the world, and in today’s digitally connected culture, that means providing them with more choice and control over their hotel stay through technology,” Christopher Nassetta, Hilton Worldwide’s president and chief executive officer, said in a written statement.
As USA Today , Geraldine Calpin, global head of digital at Hilton Worldwide, recalled a recent online survey of 1,009 travelers that found that 84 percent of respondents wanted to pick their own room, much like airline passengers can pick their seats.
“We are giving our guests the ability to do just that by enabling them to select not just their room type, but the exact location in the hotel, all the way down to their room number,” Calpin said. By the end of 2016, Hilton also hopes to have smartphone key technology available at most of its hotels, making plastic key cards obsolete.