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Top 10 Ways 'VirtualHotel' is Enhancing the Guest Experience

Designed by hoteliers for hoteliers, the interactive mobile app is proving
to drive revenues, satisfaction, loyalty and more. . . .

Visit Cardola at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC)
June 25 to 27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Booth No. 929


[Santa Ana, Calif.— April 23, 2013] — The iPad has  "revolutionized the way many travelers work and relax in hotels," according to a recent USA Today article. Cardola, developer of the "VirtualHotel" mobile concierge for tablet computers and smartphones, has identified 10 reasons that this mobile tool is having such a big impact on the stay experience, loyalty and revenues.
 
"In a very short amount of time, hotels across Europe, Asia and Africa have found VirtualHotel to really impact how travelers are engaging with the hotel and the local scene," said Mike Gray, Cardola director of national accounts. "Those queried for the USA Today article site convenience, entertainment, access to local information and the replacement of in-room collateral materials as the four main ways that the iPad has changed travelers' hotel stays. Through years of research and development, and really listening to our customers and consumers, we have built at least 10 guest-service benefits of implementing of using a tablet computer and/or smartphone app into our VirtualHotel solution."

Top 10 Guest-Service Enhancements Using VirtualHotel:

1.    User Friendly
VirtualHotel is a simple and intuitive system, that puts guests in control of their stay without any explanation or tutorials required. Room service orders, restaurant reservations, spa treatments, concierge services, private web browsing, housekeeping requests, local information, weather forecasts, and future reservations can all be accessed with just the touch of an icon when using VirtualHotel.

2.    Easy Ordering
With just a tap, guests are intrigued with images of service that entice them to place orders. Services can be requested and orders placed at a time that suits guests, driving further comfort and convenience. Simple service-ordering is inviting; the more services ordered the more revenues will be generated by the hotel.

3.    Real-time Information
Actively promoting and reminding guests of events, promotions or any other information relevant to their stay makes them appreciative, and shows them that the hotel cares about delivering a stellar experience. VirtualHotel promotes in-house events and on-site specials, sends targeted messaging to guests, encourages parents to take advantage of Kids Clubs where applicable, makes tour arrangements, delivers interactive maps, facilitates online airline check in, connects guests to the various social media channels, fulfills pre-arrival requests, sells hotel merchandise and much more.

4.    Multi-Platform
Designed for the leading tablets and mobile phones, VirtualHotel lets guests explore everything a hotel has to offer from the comfort of their rooms or on the move from their mobile devices. Struggling to keep the business center manned or operating? VirtualHotel is an ideal alternative. Unsure about providing in-room computing? VirtualHotel replaces the need to add bulky in-room computers that require installation and costly ongoing maintenance and support. VirtualHotel puts all services in the palm of your guests hands easily and cost-effectively.

5.    Instant Messaging
Hotels that provide in-room tablets are adding a new level of communication to their guests with allowing the guests to provide feedback in real time - a great tool to improve service recovery

6.    In-Room Shopping
Offering in-room Internet access on a web-enabled tablet device also is allowing guests to conveniently purchase any goods or services offered by the hotel from the comfort of their rooms, adding more convenience and driving more revenue.

7.    Multi-Lingual
VirtualHotel helps guests explore their options in their preferred language, increasing engagement. VirtualHotel supports multiple languages to help remove language barriers and enhance communication with the hotel for all nationalities.

8.    Up-to-Date Information
Digital information, rather than printed copy, is not only greener, it can be updated at a moment's notice to bring the latest information to the hotel guest. Because content is king, making sure that the information is relevant and up-to-date is critical to guest satisfaction. VirtualHotel eliminates the need for the hotel to prepare and print costly in-room collateral materials that are difficult to update. Hoteliers can easily make changes to the design, products, options, languages and prices in real-time without impacting the guests' use of the service. Content can be updated on a daily basis in real time. This not only drives onsite revenues, but it enhances the ability for travelers to purchase items long after they have left the property.

9.    Tracking Service Delivery
With VirtualHotel all requests are tracked from the moment they are placed. The system's intelligent service delivery tool ensures that all guest requests are delivered to the correct department immediately, and alerting management if there are any delivery delays. Putting the hotel in control of service before, during and after a guests stay at the hotel is the true essence of hospitality.

10.    Enhanced Experience
VirtualHotel inspires guests to make the most of their stay with useful information about the area, its history and nearby attractions with the option to place reservations or purchase services offsite while still being on premises.

"Hotels that are looking for that single app that ties together everything a hotel has to offer and engages guests before, during and after their stay, should look no further than to VirtualHotel," Gray said. "This solution isn't just a great interface and guest experience. What sets VirtualHotel apart in this industry is how the tool ensures that guests' requests get to the right department. Hoteliers can be confident that the personal touches they deliver today can be extended to tablet and mobile devices -- tools that are an extension of how consumers prefer to manage transactions and interact every day."
 
To experience VirtualHotel, visit Cardola at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference  (HITEC) June 25 to 27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Booth No. 929. For more information on VirtualHotel, please visit www.cardola.com.

About Cardola
Cardola was founded in 2009 by MC Hotels to satisfy the ‘virtual concierge’ needs of its hotels. Designed by hoteliers, for hoteliers, VirtualHotel is a guest-focused, multi-platform technology accessed via mobile devices to extend and enrich a hotel's existing concierge services, before, during and after a guest's stay. For more details on the company visit: www.cardola.com or contact Barb Worcester, PRpro, at 440-930-5770 or [email protected].

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Media Contacts: 

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

Mike Gray
Cardola
Tel: (714) 731-2350
[email protected]

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Also See:
Hotels Completing the Guest Experience with Roll Out of 'VirtualHotel' to U.S. Market; A new mobile concierge designed by hoteliers for hoteliers is now on the U.S. hotel scene / April 2013
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