AT HOSTMILANO, HOTELS FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE THIRD MILLENNIUM IN THE NAME OF TECHNOLOGY, DESIGN, AND NEW SERVICES.
Hotels have become the places where social relations happen. They are not just a venue of where to spend the day, but also hubs for the latest consumption and lifestyle trends. These trends will all be showcased at the 41st edition of HostMilano at Fieramilano from 18 to 22 October 2019, one of the world’s leading events for the Ho.Re.Ca and retail sectors, which is going to once again be the trendsetter for the hotels of the third Millennium. The macro-area of the Milan-based event dedicated to Furniture, Technology, and Tableware has always been the place to get a preview of the latest professional hospitality solutions through exclusive formats, concept stores, and installations well-established on the market.
ROBOTICS, HUMAN TOUCH, AND SUSTAINABILITY ARE THE FUTURE
Trend-wise, Robotics is going to be more and more necessary. Robots and tablets will replace concierges and waiters in welcoming guests and taking their orders. Sustainability is another factor under the spotlight. No more waste! The best practices of the hotel world include recycling and a rational use of linens, food, and water. Not to mention toiletries made with natural products, room keys made of cardboard, wood, or organic plastic. The Human touch is also in the top three trends. At the end of the day, everyone needs to meet real people. Hospitality serves this purpose by providing an authentic and spontaneous service.
MILLENNIALS AND MORE: HERE COMES TECHNOLOGY
According to the latest research, Millennials will represent about half of the travellers on a global scale by 2020. This means one thing – the hospitality world is going to change forever. Digital natives, who expect services to be more and more customised (people born between 1980 and 2000) are at the forefront even when it comes to using the latest applications from smartphones or tablets. Many high-tech solutions, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, apps, and smart keys, are already common solutions. For example, the first robot-staffed hotel was recently opened in Japan.
Robots here provide information at the reception, file records through facial and voice recognition technology. Another application that is becoming increasingly popular is the chatbox, which is already used on the hotel’s social media, because it allows clients to ask questions and get the answers almost instantly, 24/7. All these pluses are expected to attract not only Millennials, but also another target, i.e. millennial-minded people, who have become essential for hoteliers. These people are not necessarily a demographic group defined by age, location, or goals, but are millennium-minded, meaning those who combine work and private life, switch from a conference call to a post on social media, or buy a book online, while ordering lunch.
SEMINARS AND INSIGHTS TO OUTLINE THE HOTEL OF THE FUTURE
To stay up-to-date on the latest hospitality trends on a global scale, HostMilano has organised hundreds of events, including workshops, data and research presentations, training sessions, and national and international competitions. As for the macro-area dedicated to Tableware, Furniture, and Technology, FUTURBAR&Co – Hospitality: back to the future – the research implemented by Comufficio and the FIA Consortium in collaboration with HostMilano and the Mussapi architecture studio – will be back in 2019. A prototype of 300 m2 will display vintage and contemporary furniture to give life to an environmentally-friendly area made with reduced costs but without sacrificing innovation and technology.
Another must-attend event is the series of workshops about current topics applied to the professional hospitality sector organised by Host and POLI.design. These events will be dedicated to architects and industry experts and will focus on the most innovative solutions and tools, new urban scenarios, the luxury world, consumers’ experience, and new technologies. SMART Label, the award dedicated to innovation in the professional hospitality industry, promoted by Host-Fiera Milano in collaboration with POLI.design and sponsored by the ADI (Italian Association for Industrial Design), will also be returning to Host. An event intended to promote companies that have successfully put the combination of technology, hospitality, and future trends in the limelight. In total, the numbers point to 497 candidacies collected over the past three editions, 156 companies awarded the SMART Label and more than 20 special recognitions with the Innovation SMART Label, awarded to the same number of products marking significant milestones in the sectors represented.
All updates are available at:
www.host.fieramilano.it, @HostMilano, #Host2019
