Advancements in Hotel Planning and Design Using Digital Twin Technology in the Hospitality Industry

By Aishwarya Kulaye, Analyst, Technology Research & Advisory, Aranca

Metaverse technology is the fifth most core organizational technology in 2024 and beyond. However regretful the terms are, they have to be overlooked, as implementing the Metaverse is another blessing in disguise that would affect the engagement pattern and strategy in several industries. The Metaverse promises business with almost unlimited possibilities, which means the dawn of an era of new and unparalleled forms of customer experiences.

In a word, digital twins represent the technology accessible to companies that lease the hotel management system. It must be noted here that such models contribute to developing authentic 3D copies of real places and ideas, which is the new game in the hotel industry. Data about the possible customers are accumulated from different sources in such virtual models of experience, hence personal and refreshing. They are pushing the architectural field to newer dimensions through designs and models of dynamic and dynamic environments.
The latest hospitality industry innovations have moved quite closely to the latest modern technologies like digital twins and Metaverse. In the following, an overview is given of the changes the hospitality industry undergoes through the impact of the Metaverse and how these changes result in a better guest experience and higher operational efficiency.

Digital twins for innovative hotel management and design of the future:
The power of digital twins in innovative hotel management would be able to capture minute specifics of design, construction, or rebuilding of a hotel. The architect and designer are able to design, test and gauge layouts and materials, space efficiency as well as how the very designs and facilities affect the hotel before laying a single brick in place. New construction and renovation activities will become more efficient as enriched visitor experiences take shape through the digital twin concepts that comprise virtual tours and interactive room controls.

Immersive guest experience and engagement:
The Metaverse is revolutionising how it became a factual virtual reality tour of rooms and services experienced by guests during their visit, for which the guest is provided the chance to preview before booking. Moreover, hotels can provide tailored virtual experiences through interactive concierge services and bespoke room décor options. More events will be held through immersive games and entertaining interactivity, bringing better visitor experiences to the hospitality industry. It can generate revenue through tickets, sponsorships, and virtual item sales. The e-commerce metaverse also allows hotels to establish communities that sell branded items, host cooking classes, and generate more significant revenues.

Improved operational efficiency and cost reduction:
Operational efficiency is the bottom line of hospitality, where everything seems small but matters so much for guest satisfaction. Imagine the case where the HVAC system of a hotel or its lighting is controlled by some model of a digital twin. Managers will thus understand the energy consumption patterns and predict what will require maintenance so they can change those settings accordingly based on real-time data. Digital twins enable staff and resources to be trained better. Staff can be comfortable with changes in procedures and layout beforehand by interacting with the virtual model. Adopted at hotels by Deloitte, this has led to saving as much as 20% of operational costs due to the improvement of resource management and predictive maintenance.

Challenges and considerations:
The biggest challenge is data safety and security, which are all tied to the guests. Other challenges involved with hotels are the expense of implementing such technology and whether it is worth all the benefits reaped. Some of the key challenges experienced with metaverse technology comprise security issues, technical barriers, high costs, and uncertain user needs.

Facts and use case:
Digital twin technologies are changing the game in terms of hospitality and architecture, 65% of users state they feel much safer and more comfortable when making hotel reservations after viewing hotels through virtual tours. The market alone is going to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 32.6%. This is going to increase the revenue from 1.26 billion US dollars in 2022 to 15.97 billion US dollars by 2031. It also shows a massive growth in the digital twin market. The largest hotel chains are acquiring Metaverse technology. Marriot International, for instance, has launched Artworks’ NFTs, CitizenM bought virtual lands on The Sandbox, and Millennium Hotels built a social hotel right in the middle of land. They will also charge other brands for virtual space to monetize it. This encompasses using 360-degree tours as extensions to vagabond virtual environments that hotels are enthusiastic about creating for themselves through central agreements such as RendezVerse that allow them to construct their Metaverse.

Opinion and conclusion:
The convergence of AI and the Metaverse is shaping the future pathway of the hospitality sector with an awe of efficiency in operations and personalization of visitor experiences. Digital twins aim to recreate real hotel assets in virtual space for better design and management, increasing visitor satisfaction. Virtual reality would change how people book and spend time in hotels and involve themselves with them. The union of both worlds is bringing a new rebirth to the face of the hotel industry, raising new standards for an experience. Such technologies have promised more interactive, efficient, and pleasing experiences. But hotels have so many challenges in terms of pricing, data security, and gems of technology to work out. However, once the prices come down and the technologies continue to develop, it will indeed become one of the mainstays of the industry to offer new opportunities that will surely throng professionals and visitors alike.