Quick response (QR) codes allow hotels to engage customers in new ways. Hotels can use QR codes to provide information to guests, such as dining suggestions or things to do. They can also use QR codes to offer discounts to customers who scan codes found in print advertising or around the hotel. Additionally, QR codes help hotels promote sustainability by allowing contactless check-ins and digital documentation of customer activity. As QR code technology develops further, it will continue to help hotels strengthen customer relationships and marketing efforts.

1. SOLUTIONS MANAGEMENT
Quick
response
codes
Serge Chamelian , managing platform to access all types of The most common QR
information about the company. practices for hoteliers:
partner of hospitality services eviews on the
firm h-hotelier, shows For instance, hotels have adopted hotel’s website or any third
QR codes on the cards of their party intermediary website.
what modern day tools are rooms, as announcements in Hotels place QR codes in
elevators, on message boards
necessary to stay competitive at the concierge desk or in the
strategic places and create
a mobile review page to a
in the current market lobby to engage customers with llow customers to share their
suggestions/recommendations experiences and leave reviews.
on where to dine or what to do Print materials such as
Is the hospitality sector in hotels to acquire a QR code and during their stay and to allow brochures, magazine ads,
engage in social platforms while customers to gain incentives for billboards, and newspaper ads
the Middle East in crisis? future visits.
Over the last five years, the maintaining a relevant, useful and etc. Hotels provide a discount
hotel and travel industry has recent content for customers. only to customers who have
concentrated its attention on social QR codes can be used in scanned the QR code on their
media to promote brands and Quick Response codes several ways by hotels: print materials (QR code related
stay competitive in the market to QR codes are For entertainment whereby to the hotel’s room or restaurant
meet the needs of modern wired a 2D matrix customers participate in a social reservation).
travelers. The latter rely on the barcode networking game and acquire ty by leaving
Internet for their travel research consisting of incentives, benefits and QR codes that link to a property
and want a fast multimedia and black modules discounts offered by hotels. map to show customers where
interactive experience including arranged in a The aim of this new marketing they are, what’s close to them
advice from other travelers. square pattern technique is to maintain and how they can get to where
on a white background. The codes loyalty to the brand and increase they are going. This will allow
Moreover, a recent phenomenon can be read easily by scanning prospective customers. them to make their way through
in promoting customer any smart mobile device. Their As a promotional tool for dining all the best parts of the property.
engagement has been witnessed popularity stems mainly from options whereby customers As a link between QR codes
in the hotel and travel industry: their large storage capacity, the scan the QR code and become and Facebook as a social media
Quick Response code, known diversification of the types of aware of savings and discounts platform started to see the
as QR codes. This novelty is data, and their fast readability. available for dining. light. Indeed, a Belgian
represented in a two-dimensional For security whereby customers company created Likify, or
barcodes-like, which is scanned QR codes’ key function is to break are given a code upon their spotlike, a service that allows
using a smart mobile device. the barrier between the offline and check-in. This code is scanned marketers to add QR codes to
online media by connecting with to unlock their room door, to pay products and signs, and
QR codes allow hotels to people in the offline world and for food, and buy items within then link those QR codes to a
communicate in an innovative bring them to the online world. the hotel. Facebook fan page like button.
way with current and prospective We have started seeing QR As a green way to document For instance, when someone
customers. Thus, it is crucial for codes almost everywhere, most the activity of customers in the scans the QR code with a smart
recently in hotels, restaurants, hotel. mobile, it activates a like on the
on menus or bottles. They As a marketing tool to gain new company’s Facebook fan page.
“green way to provide customers an added customers and maintain loyalty Experience this innovation with
document customer value through their revolutionized when incentives are added to the QR code on this page.
concept of taking customers to the QR codes.
activity” a web page or a social media h-hotelier.com
36 | Hospitality News ME | Issue 84 | Oct - Nov 2012