Guests are increasingly using smartphones to book hotel rooms, with some statistics claiming that this number is well over the 50% mark for all hotel reservations. It seems that hotels need to keep up with technology to keep up with this demand from guests, and protel by Ankerdata, a hospitality business solutions provider, has partnered with ConnectHOTEL to bring a customised, protel-compatible, ‘mobile concierge’ and booking application to the South African hotel industry.
Built in South Africa, the ConnectHOTEL platform integrates directly with the protel platform, bringing the user the best available rates in real time. Eben Marais, Director at Ankerdata, says, “This user-friendly, five-step booking application cuts commission fees to less than half of the major OTAs and together with a minimal set-up fee, is creating a lot of excitement in the industry.”
The platform also offers a bot named HOLLY to engage with users over a chat platform via auditory or textual methods. Guests can order room service, lodge a request with housekeeping, book a taxi or arrange a later check-out time. The mobile concierge and booking platform is designed according to a hotel’s requirements and internal management flows and processes, keeping to the hotel’s corporate identity.
Jane Rosen from ConnectHOTEL says that they see this latest development in artificial intelligence as the future of guest engagement, and that it is a must for hotels wanting to attract and connect with a younger generation of travellers.
For more information, visit the Ankerdata website.