Hotel developers, owners, and managers are already embracing the many ways that smart technologies and devices can improve the guest experience, help their hotels stand apart from the competition, and build a base of repeat customers. Hotels are incorporating a wide range of advancements: from connected, easy-to-control room settings like temperature, lighting, and entertainment; to the convenient mobile check-in and keyless entry; to enhanced security features like facial recognition.
There’s another sometimes-overlooked smart device that you should consider adding to your wish list of burgeoning hotel technologies: the window treatment. More specifically, we’re referring to connected, automated window shades.
Automated shades are already a driving force behind the remarkable growth of the blinds and shades market, globally. According to a 2025 Market.us report, this sector is expected to be worth $30.8 billion by 2033 (up from $14.8 billion in 2023) and is growing at a CAGR of 7.8%. And the report credits much of this steady growth to “the increasing demand for modern and sustainable solutions” such as “motorized and automated window coverings,” that are enhancing consumer appeal.”
There are various reasons why homeowners are finding these devices so appealing; many of which are the same reasons why hotels are making this technology an important part of their guest experience. What follows are four reasons to take a closer look at automated window shades.
1. Getting a shade more comfortable
Automated shades make it easy for hotel guests to make themselves comfortable. The shades can be controlled from a touchscreen mounted on a wall in a convenient location such as near the room entrance or by the bedside. From there, shade control is simple and intuitive, requiring no technological expertise or reliance on complicated instructions.
With the push of a button or two, guests can raise and lower the shades to control the amount of sunlight and warmth coming into the room, helping to regulate room temperature. Push-button presets can also be controlled by guests. This means that the shades can go up at a desired time during the day to let the sunshine in, while blackout shades can be lowered for privacy and maximum darkness for a great night’s sleep.
2. Lighter work for hotel staff
By using automated shades as the primary window treatment, hotels can see substantial savings in time/labor and cost. Many hotel rooms have multiple windows, with some corner suites featuring 10 windows or more. With the synchronized control of the shades, housekeeping staff don’t have to walk to each individual shade to manually raise or lower them. Instead, they can operate the shades all at once with a single push of a button. It’s possible that the housekeeping labor savings from this benefit can, in short order, pay for the initial cost of purchasing automated shades.
Plus, if desired, some automated shades like PowerShades TruePoE shades can be pre-programmed by hotel staff to open and close at set times, including check-in and check-out. This can expedite the work involved in preparing a room for occupancy and shorten turnaround times.
3. Reducing your energy footprint – and reducing costs
These days, an increasing number of hotels are focusing on practices and technologies that reduce their environmental impact. Smart automated shades can reduce energy usage in every guest room and common space where they are featured. When automated shades are programmed to be open at certain times of the year or day, hotels can optimize energy management, reduce their environmental footprint, and slash monthly utility bills by up to 30%.
Plus, automated shades can be paired to interact with other devices such as smart lights and smart thermostats to create an intelligent ecosystem that can lower your operational costs and make a hotel’s investment in smart devices even smarter.
4. A beautiful view, even when the shades are closed
With literally no strings attached, most automated shades have a modern, streamlined look that will add a sense of sophistication and luxury to any guest room. Some automated shades, like those from PowerShades, let hotel specifiers and designers choose from a huge portfolio of fabrics, including decorative and blackout shades from the world’s most renowned textile manufacturers.
When used in hotel common spaces, such as atriums, bars, and restaurants, automated shades are an ideal way to complement an existing decor while adding visual appeal. And they can open in the morning or at lunchtime to create a bright, inviting atmosphere — one that is potentially visible to potential guests and diners walking or driving by. Or they can gradually close in the evening to give a public gathering space a warm, intimate feel.
Make your guest experience a shade better
If you’re looking for technology that can have an immediate, positive impact on your hotel business, take a look at what’s hanging in front of your windows. Investing in smart automated window treatments may be the perfect way to elevate the guest experience, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce costs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryan Chacon is the President and Co-Founder of PowerShades. With over 20 years of experience in the automation and controls industry, Ryan is an expert in engineering, product development, and IoT. Ryan currently holds 21 issued patents and two pending patents. Follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanechacon/.
