www.asianhospitality.com
September 2025 | Issue 24
Product Feature
28
contactless mobile payments and smart
fridges allow operations with minimal
staff. Some systems integrate directly
with hotel property-management
software, enabling charges to post to
guest folios.
Advanced options include RFID
tagging and sensor-equipped shelving,
which enable real-time consumption
tracking and automatic restocking
alerts, according to Mindnotix, a
company specializing in AI-powered
smart retail solutions. Operators can
analyze sales data to identify high-
demand items, reduce waste and adjust
assortments to match guest profiles.
Loyalty integration is also emerging,
according to a report by Agilysis.
“Some hotel groups link mini-mart
purchases to points programs,
encouraging engagement and enabling
targeted offers. Data from these outlets
provides insights into preferences that
can inform broader food-and-beverage
strategies.”
Rattan Chadha-founded CitizenM,
now part of Marriott International,
has built a fully contactless guest
experience, with its mobile app allowing
guests to check in and out, unlock
rooms, pay for services, order food
and beverages and control in-room
functions digitally, according to CoStar.
Meeting guest expectations
Hotel mini-marts help guests replace
forgotten items or essentials they
did not pack. Travelers can purchase
toiletries, chargers, snacks, beverages
and travel necessities without leaving
the property. This convenience ensures
guests have what they need, reduces
disruption to plans and provides hotels
with additional revenue. Moreover, it
gives customers an opportunity for
impulse buying, increasing the hotel’s
ancillary revenue.
“Hotel lobbies are increasingly
incorporating mini-marts to meet
changing traveler preferences,” said
Arun Kurup, customer chief engineer
at Bosch Engineering North America.
“Guests appreciate the convenience of
quick access to snacks, essentials and
branded merchandise, as well as the
opportunity for unplanned or impulse
purchases. Thoughtful merchandising,
open layouts, visible pricing and
self-service kiosks allow travelers—
especially Millennials and Gen Z—to
shop on their own terms while still
finding healthier and functional
options like salads, cold-pressed juices
and specialty snacks.”
“These lobby marts also align with
irregular travel schedules,” said Arun.
“Guests arriving late or departing early
can access food and drink without
relying on restaurant hours or room
service. Extended-stay brands such as
Residence Inn, Staybridge Suites and
Homewood Suites have responded by
offering lobby markets with snacks and
meal-prep basics.”
Meanwhile, Gen Z is reshaping hotel
shopping through multiple platforms,
peer input and real-time research,
according to SOCi. Unlike previous
generations that relied on a single
search engine, younger consumers
navigate a series of smaller decisions—
starting on TikTok, checking Reddit or
Yelp and ending with Google Maps.
“Legacy retail marketing models
weren’t built for today’s buyer,” said
Monica Ho, SOCi’s chief marketing
officer. “Gen Z is redefining what
discovery looks like; they don’t follow
a path, they create one. Brands that
can’t meet them across platforms with
authenticity and proof won’t earn their
trust or their business.”
Nearly one-third of consumers aged
18–24 and over one-third of those aged
25–34 say they are less loyal to brands
than a year ago. Among the youngest
buyers brand reputation ranks ninth
in purchase decisions, behind price,
quality, convenience, customer reviews
and visual content.
“There’s no single source of truth
anymore,” Ho said. “Consumers,
especially younger ones, are
assembling the full picture themselves,
platform by platform. To win their
trust, retail brands must meet them
everywhere and prove their value at
every turn.”
“Vending is not a new concept on
hotel property, but automated retail
solutions is more relevant now than
ever before for the hospitality sector.”
Mark Farshtchi, sales manager at Seaga Manufacturing, Inc.,
UltraServ Automated Services is one of several large automated minimart and vending machine
manufacturers, along with Swyft, Silkron, DFY Vending, LE Vending, Daalchini and Adnixpro.