The hospitality market isn’t just booming right now—it’s also expected to continue to grow well into the future. Projections suggest the industry will balloon to $7.24 trillion by 2029! This is great news for hoteliers, but that growth doesn’t come without serious pressure. Guests want more. Operations are more complex. And the competition is fiercer than ever.
To stay ahead, savvy hoteliers are trading in clunky systems and outdated processes for hospitality technology solutions. The right tech makes things easier for staff and guests (all while driving the bottom line). Curious? This guide is a cheat sheet for the hospitality tech solutions that create a smarter, more profitable property that guests love to stay at.
What we’ll cover:
The way people travel, book and stay has changed. Guests today expect mobile access, real-time updates, seamless service and personalized experiences. It's hard to believe we aren't far removed from when pencil and paper were the standard for hotels. Now, nearly three-quarters of guests prefer places that offer self-service tech!
At the same time, staff feel stretched thin, costs are rising and outdated systems just can’t keep up. Manual processes waste time. Siloed data leads to missed opportunities. That’s where the digital shift comes in.
Hospitality businesses are leaning into smarter tech to solve these challenges and open new doors for growth. Tech has become the backbone of a smooth, profitable hotel operation, with the power to:
And that's just to name a few! Hotels that invest in the right tools are seeing major wins. Higher guest satisfaction, faster operations and stronger revenue performance are just a few benefits. This shift isn’t about replacing hospitality’s human touch. It’s about giving teams the tools they need to deliver it better, faster and at scale.
Running a hospitality business without the right tech is like trying to check in guests blindfolded. It’s clunky and it’s costing you time, money and happy customers. Smart tech powers your team to do their best work. And in a world where expectations keep climbing, staying competitive means staying connected. Let’s look at its impact.
From contactless check-in to mobile messaging, today’s travelers want convenience, speed and personalization. Tech enables all three of these, which directly boosts your property's reputation and brings guests back. And did you know that 76% of hoteliers agree that personalization is important? If you’re not offering it, someone else is.
Hospitality teams are doing more, even with fewer resources. Good tech simplifies the chaos and automates the boring stuff, meaning reduced costs and more time for what really matters: people. Beyond just automating tasks, tech helps you use your resources better across the board.
Automation and smarter systems reduce costly errors, improve efficiency and let you make data-backed decisions that boost profit. Smarter systems equal higher conversions, more bookings, and better margins. Tools like revenue management software and upsell platforms can significantly increase average daily rate (ADR) and total revenue per guest.
With the right tech stack, you’re making informed decisions. Performance, guest behavior and revenue trends give you direction based on facts, not feelings. Property Management Systems (PMS) and Business Intelligence (BI) tools, for instance, offer strong reporting and analytics.
Hotels across the globe are upgrading their tech stacks to stay efficient and guest-focused. Providing amazing experiences, improving operations and evolving dynamically gives you a big advantage. Hotels that embrace technological advancements are well-positioned to meet the needs of increasingly discerning travelers.
Having solid hotel IT solutions isn’t just for the big brands anymore. Whether you’re running a boutique hotel or managing multiple properties, the right tools matter. Tech solutions save your team hours, boost revenue and give guests the kind of experience they’ll rave about. Here are the essentials of a hotel tech stack list:
Your PMS is the command center of your entire operation. This is where you manage bookings, billing, housekeeping, guest profiles and more.
Why it matters: A recent Starfleet study found that 82–92% of hotels upgrading to a modern PMS reported dramatic improvements in revenue and efficiency.
What to look for: Cloud-based, easy for staff to learn (some mobile PMS training takes just 90 minutes per module), plus strong APIs for easy integration.
Good guest engagement solutions provide smooth, personalized service without adding work for your front desk. From mobile check-in and digital room keys to in-stay messaging and AI concierges, a guest engagement platform has everything you need.
Why it matters: Guest messaging cuts communication friction and provides instant feedback.
What to look for: A robust system that supports real-time messaging, a unified inbox and multiple channels for communication.
Revenue Management Systems (RMS) automate pricing based on demand, special events, seasonal trends and competitor rates.
Why it matters: When it comes to room pricing, guesswork is unreliable and risky. These tools crunch numbers so you don’t leave money on the table.
What to look for: Good hotel revenue management software will offer AI-driven pricing, easy-to-read dashboards and integration with your PMS and booking engine.
Point-of-Sale (POS) systems handle on-property sales, from the restaurant to the rooftop bar.
Why it’s important: Speed matters. So does billing accuracy and syncing charges with the guest’s folio.
What to look for: Mobile/tablet-ready, integrates with PMS, supports tipping and multi-outlet tracking.
A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform stores guest data (like preferences, history and contact info) to personalize communication and offers.
Why it’s important: Guests want to feel remembered and important. These tools let you build lasting relationships.
What to look for: Easy segmentation, email/SMS integration and loyalty program support.
A booking engine is your direct booking tool. This is what guests use to make reservations through your website.
Why it’s important: Direct bookings = more profit and control over the guest journey.
What to look for: Look out for a clean, mobile-optimized user experience, multi-language support and PMS and RMS integration.
This covers the hardware and software hospitality it solutions that keep your property’s technology running smoothly. Think routers, switches, Wi-Fi access points, servers and cloud connectivity.
Why it’s important: Guests expect fast, safe internet, and your tech stack can’t run on a shaky foundation.
What to look for: Secure Wi-Fi access points, regular security updates, PCI compliance and camera/access control integration.
Security tech (like surveillance cameras, access control systems or cybersecurity software) protects your guests, staff, property and data.
Why it’s important: Security breaches can be costly, both financially and to your reputation.
What to look for in a good solution: Integrated video surveillance, electronic keycard systems, endpoint security software, regular updates and compliance certifications (like PCI DSS).
These tools collect and visualize data like occupancy and guest feedback so you can act quickly.
Why it’s important: You can’t improve what you can’t measure.
What to look for: Real-time dashboards, PMS/RMS integration, predictive analytics and custom reporting.
These are tools that help staff manage housekeeping, maintenance, inventory and shift scheduling.
Why it’s important: Without coordination behind the scenes, guest-facing experiences fall apart.
What to look for: Mobile task management, PMS integration, issue tracking and smart scheduling.
Before you invest in new tech, get clear on what you really need. Are you trying to cut costs? Scale up for more guests? Build loyalty? Maybe all of the above? The best hotel tech stack is the one that serves your needs the best, so defining your goals upfront saves you from buying tools that don’t fit. Here are some of the top things to consider as you get started:
Dig into what your property needs and how IT solutions for the hospitality industry will help. This means mapping out your current daily tasks to find areas you can improve or automate. For example:
The goal is to pick tech that fills specific gaps and makes things better for both guests and staff. Adding tech just for the sake of it leads to unnecessary expenditures and convoluted systems. On the other hand, an intentional approach gives you real solutions with a measurable impact.
When evaluating your options for hotel tech, make sure you’re not getting too fixated on the initial sticker price. It's all about finding the sweet spot between what the tech does and what it costs so you get the most value for your money.
Sometimes, a high sticker price may be worth it for a truly impactful solution. Conversely, a low sticker price may distract you from hidden fees and add-ons. Common hidden hotel tech fees include:
Plus, if a system isn't cloud-based, there will likely be extra hardware costs to consider as well. That said, if a system saves you valuable time on routine tasks, it may still be worth it. The cost savings of focusing on more profitable work may significantly outweigh the initial price.
Tech doesn’t work in a vacuum. Pick systems with open APIs and cloud-based setups. This way, you can be certain they’ll play nicely with your existing tools and save you tons of frustration down the road. Also, find out if a connection is one-way (info only goes in one direction) or two-way (data is sent and received). Two-way connections are usually better for a full data flow.
Before you commit to new software, ask exactly how it links to your PMS. Also, while connected systems should work together, they shouldn't do the same things. Each new tech piece should add to what your tech stack can do, not just repeat it. Otherwise, you’re paying for redundant features and missing out on cost-saving hotel tech stack optimization.
When you’re doing things right, your business will grow. Future-proofing your tech stack ensures your software solutions will keep up, both now and in the future.
Think not just about where your property is now, but where it's headed in the next five years. Cloud-based solutions, for example, naturally offer cost-effective ways to scale up and down as needed. As you vet potential vendors, be sure they have agreements in place that let them grow with you.
Plus, if hotel sustainability is part of your plan, make sure your systems support energy-saving features and environmental reporting. Data storage, computer processing and other digital tasks still translate to a real-world ecological footprint that vendors should address.
If your team finds a tool clunky or confusing, adoption tanks (and so does your ROI). Look for intuitive designs and simple interfaces that are easy to learn and make everyone’s job easier throughout the day.
It’s also wise to ask about data security measures, including PCI DSS and data protection compliance. Also, understand the vendor's plan for handling and communicating data breaches to their customer. Be sure to look for solutions that provide strong encryption, regular software updates and compliance audits, which are essential to protecting sensitive guest data.
Even the best tech needs a little TLC. Choose vendors known for fast, helpful support and thorough training. It makes rolling out new solutions smoother and less stressful. A few questions to ask as you vet vendors include:
Good staff training is essential to make the switch to new digital tools easy, while 24/7 customer service means you can get help if something goes wrong.
The hospitality world is changing fast, and staying ahead means embracing what’s next. As you consider the right tech tools for your hotel, think of how to future-proof your operations. Here’s a quick look at the tech trends shaping the future.
From smart pricing that adjusts to demand, to chatbots answering questions 24/7 and guest profiling that tailors every stay, automation is shaking up how hotels run. It saves time, cuts costs and boosts satisfaction, while learning more about your property each time it's used.
Guests now expect more than just a comfy bed. Smart rooms with adjustable lighting, climate control and voice assistants offer that extra touch of convenience and luxury. Plus, these IoT devices can help hotels save energy by switching off automatically when guests are away.
Today’s travelers care about the planet, and they expect hotels to do the same. Energy management systems, waste reduction tech and digital receipts are becoming standard parts of a green guest experience. Technology helps green initiatives through smarter energy tracking, better inventory management and paperless operations solutions.
With real-time data, hotels can deliver offers and upsells that feel tailor-made for each guest. This increases loyalty and turns first-timers into repeat customers. Personalized interactions are a big draw for modern travelers, and having detailed guest profiles allows hoteliers to greet everyone in a familiar manner.
The right tech solutions transform how you run your business. From smoother operations and happier guests to smarter decisions and bigger profits, technology is the future of great hospitality.
Canary Technologies offers a suite of solutions designed to fit seamlessly into your existing hospitality tech stack. Whether it’s guest engagement, revenue management or back-office operations, robust integrations and exceptional support make Canary easy to adopt and even easier to use.
With solutions that integrate seamlessly and adapt as you grow, Canary helps you deliver the kind of experience guests remember. Ready to see how the right technology can take your hospitality business to the next level? Book a demo with Canary today.
Master hotel accounting for revenue growth. Our guide covers financial insights, key reports & metrics to boost your hotel's profitability.
Read More
Delve into the distinctions between hotels and motels by comparing their layouts, pricing, and amenities to determine which one best suits your booking needs.
Read More
Unlock hotel profitability by streamlining operations. Learn how integrated technology reduces hotel expenses and elevates the guest experience.
Read More
Maximize your hotel's revenue: adopt the best revenue management strategies in the hotel industry used by top-performing hotels. Learn more here.
Read More
Few moments of a hotel stay are more crucial than when a guest opens the door to their room for the first time. It’s a first impression that sets the tone for the rest of the trip—and ideally, it sparkles.
Read More
