runtriz™ Delivering Mobile Guest Facing App for SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills; Branded "GoSLSHotel," the smartphone application puts all hotel services at guests fingertips; runtriz™ becomes a valuable tool for hearing impaired travelers, Green initiatives / February 2010

Hotel Online
News for the Hospitality Executive

Delivering Mobile Guest Facing App for SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills

Branded "GoSLSHotel," the smartphone application puts all hotel services at guests fingertips;
runtriz™ becomes a valuable tool for hearing impaired travelers, Green initiatives

Los Angeles – February 2, 2010 – In keeping with its concept to create a new paradigm in luxury hospitality, SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, a Luxury Collection Hotel, has teamed with runtriz™ to develop a customized mobile, guest-facing application that delivers hotel services right to a guest's smart mobile device. Branded "GoSLSHotel," the application enables SLS Hotel guests to set a wake-up call, order roomservice, request luggage pick-up, purchase show tickets, make dinner reservations and more. If a guest does not own a smart device, the hotel will provide one (with the application pre-loaded) upon request.

"Travelers today are demanding impeccable service – in real time – and this mobile application from runtriz™ is the epitome of the SLS concept of personalized service," said Philip Dailey, General Manager of SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills. "The benefits of this application include: real-time content updates for special promotions, real-time guest feedback from electronic guest surveys or text messages, and its overall green impact on the environment. GoSLSHotel has been completely customized by runtriz™ so that it is truly an extension of the SLS Hotel brand and its services."

With GoSLSHotel, guests are personally "directing" and "perfecting" each and every detail of their stay.

Mattthew Allard, runtriz™ founder and president, said since the hotel began offering GoSLSHotel to its guests last week, usage figures are rising daily:

46 Service Requests for Spa, Dining Reservations, Housekeeping etc;
50 Roomservice Orders;
4,000 Guest Touches
33 Unique Guests have Used the Application

"GoSLSHotel is using runtriz™ technology to its fullest potential, meeting guests' demands in a way never before possible and taking luxury service standards to new levels," Allard said. "Based on the hotel's personalized criteria and our system's flexibility, we were able to incorporate a survey module into the application that gives management real-time feedback and the opportunity to respond immediately to an incident, instead of relying on comment cards that are typically filled out after the guest checks out. This tool is giving the hotel yet another opportunity to deliver unparalleled service with speed and efficiency like never before. ”

Helping Guests and the Environment
In addition to the aforementioned benefits of GoSLSHotel, Allard identified further uses for the mobile application that also are making an impact on guest satisfaction and the environment, and that are available for use on iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry, G1, or Palm Pre.

"Early on, the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills recognized GoSLSHotel as an effective tool for hearing-impaired guests to effortlessly access all the hotel’s services," Allard said. "With this mobile device, hearing-impaired guests can directly message an in-room dining order or book appointments for hotel services even while they are not on property. Previously two-way communication was limited. Through GoSLSHotel, however, most all communication barriers have been removed."

The environment also is directly benefitting from this mobile technology because it removes the hotel's reliance on printed materials by switching to a digital data format. Now, restaurant menus and other service in-room collateral pieces, such as menus, brochures, booklets, in-room tent cards, hotel and property directories and more, can be visible to guests electronically, thereby reducing printing costs and allowing management to update promotions and offers daily.

Helping Management, Owners and Brands
While runtriz™ initially designed the smartphone application as a front-end guest-service tool, it also is providing significant cost-saving and marketing benefits to hotel management, owners and even the brand on the back end, and the bottom line:

runtriz™ runs incremental revenues via sales of in-room items and hotel merchandise

runtriz™ runs cost effectively – it only requires Wi-Fi and an Internet connection. There is zero hardware installation and no expensive wiring involved

runtriz™ runs reports – all touches, purchases and actions are tracked and turned into reports. runtriz™ is able to extract valuable information for your business about guest preferences and trends

runtriz™ runs your brand -- runtriz™ is custom branded to reflect the identity and brand of each property. Hotels decide on the elements of runtriz™ and other features can be easily added to provide anything you offer your guests. In addition, each unit can be covered with a protective skin that is specifically branded for the hotel.

“runtriz™ is taking guest-service automation to a new level of excellence,” Allard said. “As the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills can attest, it’s fast becoming the preferred technology platform by today’s savvy travelers, and it delivers information about your hotel via a medium that guests are familiar with and frequently use. There is no better way to promote a hotel’s services and amenities than with runtriz™.”

For more information on runtriz™, visit www.runtriz.com.

About runtriz™

runtriz™ uses technology to improve businesses. Based in Los Angeles, runtriz™ develops interactive technology focused on process re-engineering that allows their partners to provide customers with unparalleled service. Along with runtriz™ proprietary reporting engine, businesses can now view consumer behavior in real-time and employ a pro-active service model. For more information go to www.runtriz.com.

About SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
Located at the crossroads of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is the first property to debut in the new SLS Hotels brand from SBE. Challenging every traditional convention of luxury hospitality, SLS Hotels is built upon the fundamental principles of discovery, humanity, elegance and authenticity. The 297-room SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills opened its doors in November 2008 as part of The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts brand, managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., with design by Philippe Starck, a culinary program crafted by Spanish chef José Andrés, and custom-curated retail by Moss. The seven-story hotel features 61 luxuriously appointed suites, including seven lifestyle suites with Technogym Kinesis Personal equipment and 32 allergen-resistant Pure rooms. Innovative and eclectic dining reaches new heights at The Bazaar by José Andrés, a collection of magical dining and lounge experiences woven into a modern-day indoor piazza. Groups and social events thrive in more than 30,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor function space and 12,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space. SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills has also debuted its unique new spa concept, Ciel Spa at SLS, which combines the luxury of a full-service spa with the whimsy of Philippe Starck design. With matchless synergy, SLS guests receive preferential access to The SBE Collection of some of the city's most sought after restaurants, nightclubs and lounges. For more information, please visit www.slshotels.com.

About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection is a selection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world`s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination`s indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent décor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Today, The Luxury Collection is a glittering ensemble of more than 70 of the world`s finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning hotels that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class in some of the most desired destinations in the world. Most recently, Mystique, a Luxury Collection Resort, was honored with the 2008 Travel + Leisure Design Award for Best Small Resort in the world. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world`s finest. For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com.

Contact:

Matthew Allard
Founder/President
runtriz
Tel: (323) 230-9727
[email protected]

Barb Worcester
PRPRO
Tel: (440) 930-5770
[email protected]

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