ATLANTA Starting next week, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will connect guests face-to-face with concierge teams at 10 properties around the world using the new iPad 2 from Apple.
As the first global hotel brand to equip its concierge teams with the iPad, InterContinental is committed to ensuring travelers have unparalleled access to local attractions, cultural events and “insider” travel tips. Using the FaceTime feature on Apple products—be it MacBook, iPhone 4, iPod Touch or iPad 2—consumers can video chat with InterContinental’s highly equipped concierge teams and receive top-notch personalized service and destination recommendations before they even leave home.
InterContinental has even set up a dedicated Twitter feed and hashtag to promote the app: @WorldConcierge and #ICiPad2.
InterContinental properties participating in the initiative include:
- InterContinental New York Barclay
- InterContinental San Francisco
- InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta
- InterContinental Houston
- InterContinental London Park Lane
- InterContinental Dubai Festival City
- InterContinental Shanghai Expo
- InterContinental Hong Kong
- ANA InterContinental Tokyo
- InterContinental Bali Resort
In addition to being the first global hotel brand to provide its staff with the iPad, InterContinental in December became the first major hotel brand to offer consumers an app designed specifically for the iPad. To date, InterContinental’s free Concierge app has been downloaded by more than 7,000 consumers.
“We are excited to further enhance our interaction with travelers via the iPad 2,” says Simon Scoot, InterContinental’s vice president of global brand management. “As a brand, we pride ourselves on our ‘insider’ concierge teams and personalized service, and now prospective guests can access authentic destination advice and top-notch travel tips face-to-face before they even leave home.”
The enhancements associated with the iPad 2 include FaceTime video chatting with Concierge teams, destination-specific concierge videos and interactive mapping powered by Google Maps.