An unmanned reception: how a serviced apartment operator uses tech to cut costs, create ‘memorable experience’
Even in the face of rising costs, China’s hospitality industry needs an average 0.8 person per room versus 0.5 person in the West
The next time after you get off the plane and are making your way to your serviced apartment accommodation in mainland China, technology would have seen that you are notified that your accommodation registration is already processed. By the time you arrive at the front desk, you only need to pick up a key card.
This is the picture that Frasers Hospitality sees and expects of its serviced apartments to deliver as the company makes technology work to its business advantage in a country where increasing costs have become every business’ bigger woe.
The serviced apartment industry should actively embrace technology to cut cost and create “memorable experience” for customers, said Frasers’ chief executive Choe Peng Sum.
The Singaporean apartment operator’s portfolio in China includes properties across established cities like Beijing and Shenzhen, and emerging ones such as Chengdu, Nanjing and Wuhan.
Choe described their embrace of technology as being in an era where “technology leads the way”. For instance, it has collaborated with leading technology firms to enable guests to enjoy tailored streaming music when they stay at the properties.
The envisioned desk-less check-in will be rolled out soon. Customers will be spared the minimal 15-minute wait common with front office check-ins. When they received their notifications upon landing, they would also have been told of their room numbers.