Welcome to 2025! Every new year brings with it new trends, topics, and new buzz-worthy talk tracks, and it’s no different for hospitality. Hotels need to keep up with the times to keep guests enjoying their stay and recommending the hotel to others. So what are some trends we expect to really take off in 2025? We’re placing our bets on these 5 hospitality trends in the new year!

1: mobile-first approach

Data doesn’t lie: the numbers keep showing that mobile phones are the preferred method of communication, so it’s important for properties to meet the guests where they are. Guests are looking for a seamless, digital experience. Gone are the days where a user-friendly experience on the PC is good enough; guests need a mobile friendly site and/or app as well. Even better if you can message them in native SMS apps like Apple Messages or WhatsApp to make it easier for them to communicate with you. It will not only be beneficial for your guests to approach any concerns they may have, you are more likely to catch problems and have great service recovery before they submit a review.

From the back-of-house perspective, having a mobile-friendly app for maintenance, housekeeping, and hotel logs can help drive efficiency from your staff. Team members can receive notifications of rooms that need to be turned over, maintenance requests, and more, no matter where they are on the property. And management is able to notice maintenance trends, track purchase order spending, and have comprehensive views into what’s going on in their hotels. 

2: sustainability

Not only are sustainable hotel practices great for the planet, they are also great for your overall satisfaction and ITR scores. Guests are more conscious about sustainability and want to spend their money at places where they prioritize the planet. Implement sustainable features like a refillable water station, or keep media on file, that way you can send them a link via text and use less paper. Are you already implementing sustainable features at your hotel? Make sure guests are aware of your sustainability practices both online and offline. Let them know as soon as they check in, or send them a welcome text that also highlights some of these features. Guests will greatly appreciate the extra steps you are making to better the environment.

Another opportunity to drive sustainability is through your preventative maintenance program. By understanding how and when you need to repair items in your hotels, you can avoid those last-minute maintenance requests, and focus on repairs over replacements. This not only saves the environment, but saves your hotel’s bottom line.

3: flexible and remote work accommodations

Remote/flexible work is now very common, so it’s important for traveling workers to find space to get their work done while they are on their trip. Instead of having them find another place to work outside of the hotel, alleviate that stress and offer quiet spaces where guests can be productive. Desk space with outlets, sound proof rooms, and reliable internet will all be important factors for these travelers. You can make guests traveling for work aware of these amenities by promoting them on your website, or sending them a text with amenity information when they arrive.

4: personalized experiences

Guests want hyper-personalized experiences. Being able to communicate with them directly and tailor their experiences to their taste is a must. Don’t make them feel like every other guest, make them feel like they are valued and you truly care to give them an elevated experience. You can recognize their loyalty status when they check in, either in-person or digitally, and ask them questions about themselves or their trip. These details will be great help for personalization.

5: AI

AI is still the big buzz word in 2025. While AI shouldn’t replace human service in hospitality, it should supplement it to help with front desk efficiency and employee retention. Let AI technology help out with the mundane tasks, like suggested replies for guest messages that ask common questions. That way, your staff can put more energy into the personalization and service recovery that really drives the guest experience.

Tech trends in hospitality seem to change all the time, but the fundamental goal is the same: to help your team members provide the best possible service to guests, bringing them (and their friends and family) back to your hotel over and over again. Has your hotel implemented any of these trends or tech upgrades yet? Kipsu can help you stay at the top of your game. Start the new year with guest messaging or a better workflow solution, and schedule a conversation with us today!

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