In the travel and hospitality industry, good service isn’t just a part of the experience; it is the experience. Whether someone books a weekend getaway or a business trip across the globe, what stays with them more than the room size or the flight legroom is how they were treated along the way.
- Did someone answer their query when they were confused about a refund?
- Was there support available when their check-in got delayed?
That’s why customer support in this sector carries a heavier weight than many others. Travellers expect quick, personalised help before, during and even after their trip without wait. They reach out over chat, email, WhatsApp, or whatever platform is most convenient at that moment.
To match this pace and variety, travel and hospitality businesses can’t rely on outdated systems or disjointed communication methods. They need a contact center solution that brings everything together and responds to customers at every step of the way.
Below are the key capabilities your contact center software should have to meet modern expectations and deliver the kind of guest experience that earns trust and repeat bookings:
Be Proactive, Not Just Reactive
In the travel and hospitality field, waiting for the customer to reach out with a query or complaint is already a missed opportunity. Instead, you can go one step ahead by sending a personalized message with dinner recommendations just before check-in, or a quick text confirming airport transfers a few hours before arrival.
Proactive service like this can shape a memorable guest experience. Whether it’s through outbound calls, timely emails, or mobile alerts, reaching out at the right moment creates a sense of care and attentiveness that guests remember and often reward with loyalty.
Use Smarter Call Routing
Not every query is created equal, and not every agent is equipped to answer every call. That’s where intelligent routing comes in.
A couple planning their honeymoon shouldn’t be speaking with someone who specialises in corporate bookings. With smart routing features, calls can be directed to agents based on language, location, expertise, or customer history. This ensures faster resolution and creates a more personal interaction for the guest.
Make Omnichannel the Norm
Travellers move across platforms nowadays without a second thought. They may browse a destination on a tablet, ask a query over WhatsApp, and finalize their plans on a laptop. That’s why brands need to ensure their customer service works just as seamlessly.
A glitch on your website shouldn’t result in a lost booking. It should trigger an instant follow-up call or live chat. When every channel works in harmony, the customer feels supported no matter how or where they reach out.
Allow Mobile Self-Service That Feels Effortless
These days, mobile phones are more than a travel companion. From checking in, browsing add-on experiences, to changing bookings on the fly, travellers expect to do it all on their phones.
You can give your customers the power to self-serve via a well-designed mobile interface to save your team’s time and make the experience quicker for the guest. You get bonus points if your platform promotes deals, shares real-time updates, or lets guests discover hidden gems around their location.
Monitor Social Media Beyond Likes
A guest might not call your support team but they may tag you if something goes wrong. From sharing travel photos to venting about delays, social media has become part of the guest experience.
That’s why it’s crucial to monitor and engage on platforms like Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook. With the right tools, your team can track mentions, respond to queries, and turn complaints into moments of resolution even before the guest checks out.
Turn Guest Data into Genuine Insights
Behind every booking is a story – why they chose your property, what they liked, and what they skipped. You can dive deeper into these behaviours with the help of analytics tools baked into your contact center software.
You’ll know exactly what a returning guest is looking for instead of offering generic discounts or loyalty perks. Whether it’s understanding travel patterns, predicting peak service times, or fine-tuning communication, using real-time data allows you to improve the guest experience and your operations.
In the hyper-connected travel landscape, the true differentiator is how the guests feel at every touchpoint. The right contact center software can streamline operations and become an invisible travel companion ensuring every question is heard. When technology blends with human empathy, unforgettable guest experiences become the standard.