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InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Franchise is first to equip concierge teams with Apple iPads

By: InterContinental Hotels Group |  0 Shares     103 Reads

And invites guests to tweet feedback and ideas on this new service

April 02, 2010 // Franchising.com // InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the world's first hotel brand to offer global destination specific concierge websites and videos, is now equipping its Concierge teams with Apple iPads, starting next week. As part of a global pilot at InterContinental New York Barclay, InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, InterContinental London Park Lane and InterContinental Hong Kong, travellers can look forward to receiving enhanced local destination advice from the hotel Concierge teams, guided by mobile, multi-touch, content-rich Apple iPads.

Travellers who have had the opportunity to experience this new service, and those who would like to provide ideas and feedback to aid the future development of this service, are invited to tweet InterContinental at www.twitter.com/WorldConcierge

InterContinental expects the Apple iPad to enhance its Concierge team's interaction with guests in various ways, including:

• Enhanced Maps and Directions - Rather than jot directions on a foldable paper map, Concierge teams will be able to provide exact directions, through interactive maps with high-resolution satellite imagery, close-up street views and detailed walking routes.
• Video Recommendations - Concierge teams' top local recommendations come to life in destination specific videos, a unique InterContinental feature. The Apple iPad will allow Concierge teams to present these short videos to guests, so they get a clearer idea of selected recommended activities even before they set off.
• Instant Booking Confirmations - Concierge recommendations of restaurants, performances and attractions can be clearly illustrated with vibrant images and sharp text, and bookings may be made and confirmed instantly by e-mail.

Simon Scoot, Vice President, Global Brand Management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, said: "We have an amazing team of Concierges worldwide, and our Concierges are already engaging with our guests with useful information such as pre-stay e-mails, destination specific Concierge websites, interactive maps and Concierge videos. We are also preparing to pilot state-of-the-art Google Maps technology as well as other enhancements, and the Apple iPad will be a revolutionary way of showcasing some of these features."

About InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has 166 hotels, located in more than 60 countries with local insight that comes from over 60 years of experience. At InterContinental we believe that superior, understated service and outstanding facilities are important, but what makes us truly different, is the genuine interest we show in our guests. Our desire is to help guests make the most of their time. We connect our well-travelled guests to what's special about a destination, by sharing our knowledge so they enjoy authentic experiences that will enrich their lives and broaden their outlook.

About IHG

InterContinental InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,400 hotels and more than 645,000 guest rooms in over 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with 48 million members worldwide.

IHG has nearly 1,400 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

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