IHG announced Thursday it is testing and selectively rolling out several initiatives in the mobile and digital space.
The offerings include the following:
- Guests booking with IHG in one of more than 50 global destinations will be able to use Stay.com to research and plan their travel and create personalized travel guides to share with friends. The guides can be downloaded to Stay.com’s mobile app for use both on and offline.
- U.S.-based IHG Rewards Club elite members will have exclusive access to mobile check-in and check-out, which is in the process of being rolled out in the Americas, with the ability to manage their stay via their mobile device — including confirmation of arrival time and SMS notification of when their room is ready. Mobile check-in and check-out also will be introduced globally over time.
- Mobile folio will allow guests to view their hotel bill in real time on their mobile device via the IHG app before receiving their final bill during mobile check-out.
- IHG is testing new technologies in the United States to support mobile room keys.
- IHG Guest Request, which allows guests to make a request instantly through the IHG app, is being tested. The app then uses a platform that logs, assigns and tracks requests, making it clear to hotel staff what the current status is and who is responding.
- Via iBeacon technology, beacons are being placed in the lobbies and restaurants in a selection of IHG hotels in China. The beacons recognize IHG Rewards Club members in close proximity using the IHG app. They then send information to the guest’s smartphone including personalized notifications and offers relevant to their stay.