To begin with, what exactly is ‘metaverse’?

The word metaverse is a combination of the words “meta” and “universe.” The term was coined by science fiction author Neal Stephenson in his 1992 novel, Snow Crash.

The term metaverse is often used to describe an immersive virtual reality environment that would be experienced through a person’s sensory organs. In this sense, the term can be seen as analogous to the word cyberspace which is also often used to refer to virtual worlds.

So where does the hospitality industry fit in the metaverse?

The hospitality industry has always been trying to adopt the technology. However, with the recent advancements in VR and AR, it is becoming more feasible for hotels and other hospitality establishments to integrate these technologies into their operations.

The most common use of VR in the hospitality industry is for marketing purposes. It allows potential customers to experience a virtual reality version of the location they are considering visiting.

AR has also been used to enhance customer experience by providing information about the establishment’s facilities or other attractions in the area. For example, AR could be used to display a map of nearby restaurants or tourist attractions on top of an image taken by a smartphone camera.
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Benefits that can be reaped by the hospitality industry from the metaverse?

One of the biggest challenges in hospitality is meeting the changing expectations of guests. From seamless booking processes and unique stay experiences to valuable vacation packages, there is a tremendous demand for an optimized guest experience. With so many of today’s travelers being tech-savvy, the Metaverse could transform hospitality and redefine the guest experience. The guest experience starts with finding accommodations, and if the metaverse is adopted, it could take the hotel reservation process to the next level.

With the Metaverse, customers could get important information about their room reservation, like room size, price, and amenities, just like they do now. But travelers could also experience virtual hotel tours in 3D. Travelers could become digital avatars and walk through the hotel or resort virtually before check-in. to deliver. A 3D hotel tour could give guests a sense of security in making decisions about your hotel and increase direct booking and conversion rates.
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With guest satisfaction being the measure of any hotelier’s success, using the Metaverse to deliver an interactive in-room experience or an authentic local and cultural experience could tip the scales in your favor. This level of service allows you to stay ahead of your competition and put your guests in control of their upcoming trips.

The futuristic digital space that the Metaverse promises has the potential to transform the hotel and travel industry impacted by the pandemic. However, building an alternate reality world will definitely be challenging. The Metaverse requires strong collaboration between technology companies, innovators and policymakers. It will be interesting to see how much the Metaverse ignites the travel industry and how the Metaverse will blur the lines between the physical and the digital world in the years to come.