Expert hoteliers are comparing the industry's response to COVID-19 and the increased awareness of health and safety when traveling to that of post-9/11 airports. "Hygiene is the new security," says Jean-Michel Gathy, the owner of luxury hotel design firm Denniston. And one of the best ways to maximize the well-being and peace of mind of your guests is to incorporate touchless hotel ideas into your business and property.

"People always have had high expectations of cleanliness from luxury hotels," says Montage International founder Alan Fuerstman. "Now it's just going to get a little higher. And there's a ton we can learn from hospitals. Hand sanitizers located throughout our hotels, hand washing stations for staff, ultraviolet light and disinfecting wands for cleaning public spaces quickly, more antimicrobial surfaces in our lobbies and rooms. All of a sudden this is all on the table."

This means we are in a moment the industry has never seen before. Not only have guests opened their minds to what the hotel experience can or should be like, they're also counting on properties to come up with new ideas, both for now and well into the future.

Luckily, there are a lot of great examples from industry leaders to inspire upgrades and keep you ahead of the hotel digital transformation boom. Keep reading to discover 21 touchless hotel ideas ranging from the far-out, such as food delivery robots, to some previously underappreciated systems, like contactless room keys, that are now making a huge difference in the lives of hotel guests.