Global Study: Millennials Mobile Use Reshaping Hospitality Industry

Redwood Shores, Calif. – Apr. 12, 2016 – More than 9,000 millennials from around the world discussed their use of technology in hotels, restaurants, bars and coffee shops in a groundbreaking survey that quantifies the impact mobile devices are having on hospitality.

Demonstrating, in some cases, that mobile use is pervasive and reshaping the industry, key findings from Millennials and Hospitality: The Redefinition of Service include: 39% have already ordered delivery or take-out using their smartphones, and 20% have used a mobile device to check-in at a hotel.

"Mobile is very much here and happening in hospitality," said Ray Carlin, Vice President of Solution and Strategy Management at Oracle Hospitality, which commissioned the global study. The results underscore how technology is altering consumer expectation and presenting hospitality operators with an unprecedented opportunity to win millennials' business.

"It will require a redefinition of service – one that offers millennials tremendous choice, speed and personalization based on their individual preferences," Carlin said. "Providing such tailored service not only means accommodating consumers' use of smartphones, but for operators to leverage their own mobile devices to better serve them."

Among the report's other major findings:

• Loyalty is a priority for food and beverage: 52% of millennials want to use their mobile devices to take advantage of loyalty programs offered by restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Millennials want to be acknowledged, with personalized rewards that reflect their individual preferences. For the operator, this offers huge potential in collecting invaluable data about customer behavior and delivering targeted promotions to drive order value and revenues.
• Hotels face a mobile frontier: Make no mistake – millennials in every country are already using their mobile devices to conduct core functions with hotels. Among the findings: 20% had checked into a hotel using their mobile, while 46% had booked a hotel room through similar means. Only 12% had ordered room service by smartphone, yet room service was the number one request when millennials were asked how else technology could improve their stay.
• Gaps exist between desire and ability: In several instances, millennials' desire for mobile-driven activities and their actual experience using them varied significantly. For example, only 29% of U.S. millennials reported already having paid with a mobile device, but 44% expressed a desire to do so – suggesting an opportunity to grow business by meeting demand.
• Geography makes a difference: Many similarities exist among millennials around the world, but behavior and preferences also vary greatly by geography and culture. Japanese millennials, for example, were surprisingly less likely to use their smartphones in hotels or restaurants – only 19% wanted to pay for food or drink by mobile device.
• Voices need to be heard: When evaluating hospitality employers' use of technology, more than one third (36%) of millennials who had worked in the industry said that there was much room for improvement. Interestingly, only 15% said their employers solicited their suggestions for improving technology use.
• Not all mobile devices are equal: Millennials, no surprise, can't part ways with their smartphones – 87% of survey respondents said they use one daily. The Apple Watch is already being used by 10% of UK millennials. But other devices are used less than perhaps expected: only 37% reported using iPads and tablets daily.

Carlin continued: "The other significant finding is that the demand for ordering and paying by smartphone is not universal – there are plenty of millennials that still want personal service when they're in a hotel or a restaurant. Our job is to help operators adapt and define how technology supports a personalized, flexible service offering."

Oracle Hospitality pursued the research project to aid hoteliers and food and beverage operators gain a better understanding of millennials, who represent the largest segment of the workforce in many countries. Such insight is essential not only to engage the tech-savvy demographic as customers, but to enhance their abilities as employees to deliver stellar guest service. Conducted by an independent research firm, the survey polled participants, ages 18 to 35, in eight countries, including a subset that had worked in hospitality within the past five years.

With the acquisition of MICROS Systems – a leader in the hospitality sector for more than 35 years – and Oracle's R&D capabilities and cloud technology, Oracle Hospitality is dedicated to pioneering innovations. With enterprise management platforms designed for hotels and food & beverage operations, Oracle Hospitality solutions can tackle a full spectrum of tasks, including managing staffing needs, accelerating hotel check-in, improving kitchen operations and providing mobile devices that help enhance guest service anywhere, anytime.

Oracle Hospitality develops hardware and software solutions that work together to help produce tailored guest service for hotels and F&B establishments. By addressing every facet of the business, Oracle Hospitality solutions help optimize operations across the board to deliver the speed, agility and efficiency required to meet customers' unique needs.

The report is available at www.oracle.com/hospitality-millennials

Related case studies:

• Learn how The Habit Burger Grill uses tablets to rapidly reduced waiting times for guests.
• Find out how Rydges Sydney Airport is improving guest services with mobile technology.
• Watch wagamama use mobile devices to respond instantaneously the needs of its guests.
• See how a cloud-enabled loyalty system has enhanced the guest experience at Grupo Fynso.

About Oracle Hospitality

Oracle Hospitality brings more than 45 years of experience in providing technology solutions to independent hoteliers, global and regional chains, gaming, and cruise lines. Our hardware, software, and services enable customers to act on rich data insights that deliver personalized guest experiences, maximize profitability, and encourage loyalty. Cloud-based, mobile-enabled, with open APIs, Oracle's OPERA Cloud property management and distribution, Simphony point-of-sale, reporting and analytics, and Nor1 upsell solutions accelerate innovation, increase revenue, lower IT cost, and maximize operating efficiency. To learn more, please visit www.oracle.com/Hospitality.

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