 LOS ANGELES—December
7, 2010—Since the JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE went
“live”
and opened last February in downtown Los Angeles’ newest sports and
entertainment complex, business has been booming. Tens of thousands of
guests
have already stayed at the 878-room property that shares space with two
other
hotels. For the concierge team at the Marriott, there is nonstop
activity—a
steady stream of guest requests that must be handled efficiently and
professionally. Thanks to Web-based GoConcierge,
the lodging industry’s leading guest service operations system, the
concierges are
able to log and manage requests without even one falling through the
cracks.
GoConcierge is produced by Los Angeles-based GoConcierge.net.“One of our key commitments at the JW Marriott is to create personalized experiences with attention to even the smallest details for every one of our guests,” says Javier Cano, general manager. “GoConcierge assists us in making this commitment a reality on a daily basis.” “Our focus is on making it as easy as possible for concierge and other departments to respond to guest requests quickly and efficiently,” says Adam Isrow, Executive Vice President of GoConcierge.net. “The JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE, like the more than 500 other hotels using our system, is showing the lodging industry how Web-based technology can dramatically transform the way a hotel operates.” Transition from Manual to Automated System Prior to implementing GoConcierge this fall, the concierge team at the property relied on binders, Post-it Notes and e-mail to track their daily tasks. “Communication was inconsistent and it was not easy to confirm all the communication with our guests,” says Joey Battaglia, lead concierge. Now, using GoConcierge’s online Guest Task Calendar, concierges at three stations in the main lobby and at the concierge desk in the Executive Lounge can log and track guest and other requests and tasks quickly and easily. With just a few clicks, these can be entered and located. The calendar is color coded, which makes it easy to highlight open, pending and closed tasks. Because a history of each guest’s request is stored in GoConcierge, it is easy to generate itineraries. These can be printed or e-mailed in a matter of seconds along with a personalized confirmation letter on stationery that includes the hotel’s logo. Point-to-point directions and maps also can be generated easily. “We love how easy it is to create guest itineraries,” Battaglia says. “It is very user-friendly.” Customizable Location Database A customized location database within GoConcierge allows concierges to quickly identify area restaurants and attractions. “We use it all of the time and love the ability to contribute new locations previously not in the system,” Battaglia says. To communicate directly with guests who are not nearby, the concierge team utilizes GoConcierge’s text messaging feature. When guests respond to text messages sent to them, their messages appear in the Guest Task Calendar. Concierges and guests correspond about issues ranging from theater tickets to dinner reservations and transportation. “The text messaging option is great,” Battaglia says. “Guests are starting to use that more and more.” Reports available within GoConcierge detail volume of reservations made for on-site and external restaurants and attractions. Reports also provide insight into staff productivity and scheduling. Other Departments Considered A month after implementing GoConcierge, Battaglia says hotel management is considering introducing it to other departments. “At the moment, we are the only team that has access,” he says. Reflecting on his experience with GoConcierge so far, Battaglia adds, “GoConcierge has given us the confidence we need to deliver service that exceeds our guest’s expectations.” “It is gratifying that Joey and his team have already benefited significantly from GoConcierge,” says GoConcierge.net’s Isrow. “They have worked hard to maximize its potential. At the end of the day, guests are more satisfied with the level of service they received and concierges know no task has gone unfinished.” About the JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. Live: The JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE serves as the focal point of L.A. LIVE, offering travelers a front seat to the world-class STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Regal Cinemas and restaurants with the luxury accommodations for which JW Marriott has long been known. The hotel offers 878 well-appointed guestrooms, including 52 suites, as well as almost 100,000 square feet of meeting space. In addition to Glance, the lobby lounge and bar, a full-service restaurant, L.A. Market, is located on the first floor. The Mixing Room, a classic cocktail bar, showcases traditional favorites. Guests also have access to The Ritz-Carlton’s luxurious 8,000-square-foot spa. For more information, click here or call (213) 765-8600.
GoConcierge is a Web-based task-tracking and database solution for concierges and other departments including guest services, front desk, shipping and receiving, and restaurants. It is used by approximately 500 hotels across America, Mexico, Canada, London, Asia and Australia. Customers include properties from major companies including Hilton, Hyatt, Fairmont, Mandarin Oriental, JW Marriott, Omni Hotels, Peninsula, Le Meridien, Ritz-Carlton, Rosewood, Raffles, St. Regis, Westin, W Hotels and Luxury Collection. For more information about GoConcierge.net, go to www.goconcierge.net/home or call (818) 263-8993. |
