[Santa Ana, Calif.— April 9, 2013] — Having a mobile strategy isn't an amenity, it's a standard operating procedure today for any hotel that wishes to remain competitive. Likewise, offering an interactive mobile app that serves as a direct link to all hotel services, departments, retail outlets, amenities, programs and local area retailers and attractions isn't just requested, it's expected by travelers. That's why in 2009, M.C. Hotels Group designed a new mobile concierge for its collection of international luxury hotels called 'VirtualHotel' to satisfy the astute needs of its mobile-dependent guests. Operating under the company name Cardola Ltd., VirtualHotel today is serving as a reliable and robust technology solution for hotels across Europe, Asia and Africa to enhance communication and revenue channels. Based on growing demand for this unique mobile toolkit, VirtualHotel is now available to hotels in the United States.

"Cardola is a true believer in offering the latest, cutting-edge technology to give hoteliers a true advantage. increased loyalty and brand differentiation in the competitive lodging segment," said Tim Butterworth, Cardola managing director. "As such, we designed VirtualHotel to serve as a tool for tablet computers or the guests' own smartphone to improve hotel-to-guest communications, and vice versa. When guests want to order in-room dining and drinks, they no longer expect to search the room to find a menu, pick up the phone, engage in a lengthy dialogue about specials and how items are made. They want an interactive, multimedia exchange in their native language that delivers instant gratification and a confirmation that their request is fulfilled and on its way. The same is true when it comes to purchasing in-room movies, viewing a map of conference facilities, scheduling spa services, booking a tour, or establishing a golf tee time. In this way, hospitality has evolved from a service-by-request to service-on-demand industry, with mobile technology at its core.
 
"VirtualHotel is quite literally a mobile concierge in the palm of your hand that is as easy to manage as it is to present to your guests," Butterworth said. "Whether the desire is to fulfill pre-stay requests, on-site ordering or follow-up communications long after the guest has left the premises, VirtualHotel does it all -- in any language demanded by hotel staff and guests with no limitations and the ability to switch between languages as needed -- in one mobile app."

Embracing Tablet Technology
According to the 2013 Lodging Technology Study, providing a tablet to guests as an in-room ame­nity is an emerging trend. Projections from this study see 16.5 percent of hotels placing tablets in guestrooms within 18 months, and an additional 11 percent will add them in 18+ months (totaling 27.5 percent  over the entire time period). Findings from the study support that "as tablet computing evolves, hoteliers should be aware of the potential these devices have for not only providing guest conve­nience but also increasing employ­ee productivity."
 
Cardola will work with each hotel to build a customized mobile app for the brand or individual apps for each property within the hotel enterprise. The app is available to guests to download prior to arrival via the  Apple App Store, iTunes, and Google Play so they can engage with the hotel immediately. A proprietary app will also be present on the hotel's website offering more personalized functionality. Hoteliers can easily make changes to the design, products, options, languages and prices in real-time without impacting the guests’ use of the service.
 
"While many hotels are beginning to offer in-room tablets, guests who bring their own device can also download the VirtualHotel app and engage with the hotel accordingly," said Mike Gray, Cardola director of national accounts. "In this way, VirtualHotel is breaking down language barriers by offering multi-lingual services, 24 hours a day. Enabling guests to explore their options in their preferred language increases engagement, boosts spending and enhances the overall experience. There is no easier way for multi-national guests to interact with the hotel and make the most of their stay.
 
"VirtualHotel can be used by guests to make restaurant reservations, book spa treatments and request a whole range of services, such as dining in, wake up calls, extra pillows or a toothbrush," Gray said. "Links to external websites are also accessible on the app, such as airport check-in services, local weather forecasts and social networking sites, and a substantial ‘Local Area Guide’ and map of the local area can be created to help guests navigate round the city during their stay. VirtualHotel also serves as a booking engine to make reservations for next stays, a platform for in-room shopping, and a way to promote partner services with local business, to drive additional revenue for the hotel."
 
Based on its existing global installations, more than 70 percent of hotel guests are using VirtualHotel to check out availability of hotel amenities and local activities. Reports show that on average, there is a 28 percent increase in the number room service orders. Other cost savings comes to play by eliminating the need to print in-room promotional literature, and labor costs are on a decline as a result of automating the room service order taking process.
 
A case in point: During its first year of use, Marbella Hotels was able to reduce its labor cost by 12 percent. By using VirtualHotel, kitchen staff was reduced, as orders were placed directly from the guest's mobile device to the room service POS. VirtualHotel also aids in inventory management processes, as the system can be set up to proactively push in-house "specials" to guests, thereby capturing potentially lost revenues. Now restaurants, Kids Clubs, Spas, Golf Courses, etc., are filled to capacity thanks to VirtualHotel's ability to maximize sales.
 
"VirtualHotel delivers what today's travelers expect -- access to information in the mobile format that the prefer and are most comfortable using," Gray said. "When you improve service levels, guest satisfaction increases and added loyalty will ensue. By leveraging existing technologies, such as interfaces to Micros Opera or other HTNG certified PMS and guest-response systems, further operational efficiencies will result."
 
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].