The hospitality industry can benefit from augmented reality (AR) in several ways. In this blog post, we will name a few.

Try before you buy: hotel rooms.

First, potential guests can use AR to "test before you buy." For example, they could visualize what a hotel has to offer (e.g., a view of a suite). Using AR, customers can better understand what to expect from their visit. For example, in our recent collaboration with Hotel Adlon Kempinski, we installed the view of the royal suite in an AR station where users can look from the window at the iconic Brandenburg Gate.

Light up your hotel with AR.

AR experiences can be installed in the lobby to entertain guests and inform them about the hotel's amenities. Furthermore, hospitality participants can boast about their former celebrity guests by installing AR images in a corner for guests to take photos, much like in a Madame Tussaud fashion. Such a marketing approach is becoauming especially relevant, replacing traditional advertising with affiliate and influencer marketing. Another way to light up your hotel would be to customize the interior and exterior design with murals.

Discover restaurants, bars, and cafes on the go with AR.

Imagine you are strolling thru the streets and looking for a place to eat. You hear pleasant smells but still want to know if it is a tourist trap or if you can find some authentic food. You can open your browser, go to one of the restaurant review platforms, and type the name, but this is not so immersion-friendly. Looking around with your device to get the information you need on the go would be less intrusive. Restaurants can install such a table in front of their door to show a preview of what's on the menu. Such a preview becomes especially relevant when your menu comprises many dishes unfamiliar to tourists.

AR or VR, which is the best for the hospitality industry?

Both augmented and virtual reality create immersive experiences for the users, while the fundamental difference lies in the dose of reality. VR shines for completely digital experiences better suited for remote audiences, whereas AR's strength lies in making real-world locations more appealing. Therefore, AR would be a better fit for businesses whose main products and services are location-based (i.e., you must be at a specific place to consume it). An example would be a downtown restaurant that needs to do more than deliveries to justify its high rent. The downtown area is also likely packed with restaurants, and there is an on-location commercial competition between different restaurants.