The Adoption of New Technological Advancements to Build Resilience in Hotels.

The hotel industry was in a fight for survival during the COVID-19 pandemic. To emerge resilient from the pandemic's long-lasting impacts, the hotel industry needed to review, innovate and transform hotel operations. The prospects of recovery for hotels among other elements were underpinned by the integration of new technological advancements to aid the sustainability of the hotel business. This study was based on responses from 4 and 5-star hotel employees in Gauteng, South Africa to investigate the extent to which hotels had adopted and accepted new technological innovations to reduce the impact of the pandemic. The study is quantitative and the data was collected online, using Google Forms, attaining 103 useful questionnaires. The findings show a significant correlation between the pandemic inciting a change in hotel operations and the integration of technological innovation in hotels to ensure sustainability. This is seen through a statistically significant mean (M=4.06). Further affirming the significance of the use of technology in hotels to emerge resilient from a pandemic. Lessons from the recent pandemic and this study can form a critical foundation for hotels to adapt to external demands, integrating new technologies and sustainable strategies for survival. The findings also allude to employees' acceptance of new technological advancements and their willingness to use them. Challenges and recommendations for future research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]