In the innovation network of HotellerieSuisse – the Hospitality Booster – another pilot project was initiated. Together with the start-up BrainE4, the model of swarm intelligence was tested. The goal was to find creative solutions and ideas for further development of the industry in collaboration with the sector.
The project ran for a month and was published through the communication channels of HotellerieSuisse and the Hospitality Booster, as well as presented at the Hospitality Summit in June 2024. In the “IdeenARENA” during this event, participants could anonymously submit their suggestions and compete against each other in a fair competition.
The results speak for themselves:
Thanks to 109 participants, 126 ideas, and 3,555 duels played, numerous innovative trends for the industry were identified.
Key Findings and Recommendations:
Digital Transformation:
Priority: Obtaining direct bookings online is the top priority for accommodation businesses.
Recommendation: Businesses should optimize their online booking processes and invest in a contemporary web presence to secure competitive advantages.
Promoting Diversity and Equality:
Priority: Offering employment at less than 100% capacity.
Recommendation: Flexible working models and childcare solutions can enhance diversity and equality in the industry and increase attractiveness as an employer.
Employee Recruitment and Retention:
Priority: Involving employees in the business’s success.
Recommendation: Participation models and involving employees in decision-making processes can increase staff satisfaction and loyalty.
Vocational Training and Apprenticeships:
Priority: Regular training for vocational trainers.
Recommendation: Investing in the further education and mentoring of trainers is essential to ensure the quality of vocational training and the long-term retention of apprentices.
Sustainability Measures:
Priority: Reducing food waste and sourcing local, sustainable products.
Recommendation: Implementing sustainability initiatives such as reducing food waste and using renewable energy to enhance environmental awareness and resource efficiency.
Technological Developments:
Priority: Increasing efficiency in workflows.
Recommendation: Using technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and IoT (Internet of Things) to optimize processes and improve the guest experience.
Sources of Innovation:
Priority: Conversations with guests and exchanges with industry colleagues as top sources of inspiration.
Recommendation: Hoteliers should maintain regular feedback loops with guests and engage in intensive exchanges with industry colleagues to continuously identify and implement new ideas and improvement opportunities.
So What?
The evaluation of the pilot project shows that the industry can achieve significant progress through targeted measures in the areas of digitalization, diversity, employee retention, vocational training, sustainability, and technology. The results provide concrete recommendations that can help businesses remain competitive and implement forward-looking innovations. HotellerieSuisse and the Hospitality Booster have demonstrated with this project that swarm intelligence is an effective tool for identifying innovation potential. The developed ideas offer a valuable pool of solutions that sustainably promote the industry’s further development and improvement.
Here you can find all the questions and ideas from the survey.