Travel Technology
Expedia Group | September 11, 2023
Expedia Group has launched the TAAP Autumn Sale, offering substantial savings to meet the rising demand for fall travel in 2023.
US travel advisors can provide travelers with 20% or more savings on global hotel bookings until September 24, 2023, making travel more affordable.
Expedia TAAP provides access to over three million properties, 200,000 activities, 175 car rental options, and 500 airlines. For streamlined booking and support, travel advisors can utilize tools like Virtual Agent and Live Agent Chat.
Expedia Group has launched the Expedia TAAP Autumn Sale, aimed at helping travel advisors meet the growing demand for fall/autumn travel in 2023 and boost bookings. This sale allows US travel advisors to provide travelers with 20% or more in savings on thousands of hotels worldwide for bookings until September 24, 2023. Travel under these offers is valid through March 31, 2023.
Expedia TAAP offers travel advisors an extensive inventory featuring over three million properties, 200,000 activities, 175 car rental options, and 500 airlines. It provides access to Expedia Group tools, including a Virtual Agent for quick assistance and a Live Agent Chat for more in-depth support, streamlining the booking process and enhancing the advisor's capabilities.
Travel advisors interested in the TAAP travel agent affiliate program can access comprehensive program details on how to become part of this extensive network on the official Expedia TAAP website. With the expansive range of resources available through Expedia TAAP, travel advisors can deliver exceptional service and options to their clients. Expedia Group's extensive family of brands, including Expedia, Hotels.com, Vrbo, Orbitz, and many others, ensures that travel advisors have a wide array of offerings to meet various travel needs and preferences.
Robin Lawther, Vice President of Expedia TAAP, mentioned,
"We are pleased to offer our advisors easy access to our travel offerings to help them drive more business.”
[Source – Travel Pulse]
Robin also mentioned that thousands of discounted properties are available for last-minute summer getaways, fall city trips, or early winter sun bookings. This gives travel advisors the flexibility to meet the needs of their travelers.
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Hospitality Trends
PR Newswire | September 29, 2023
The IHG One Rewards mobile app is redefining the travel experience with a greater emphasis on customer satisfaction – and it's earning rave reviews. The app's intuitive design and new features seamlessly guide guests through their booking journey from inspiration to customizing their in-room stay experience, all in the palm of their hands. As IHG's fastest-growing booking channel, the app has driven more than half of all digital bookings in 2023 and is the main platform for loyalty engagement. With the ability to inspire adventure, maximize loyalty earnings, and seamlessly integrate into the in-hotel experience, the app has received high ratings of 4.9 stars on the Apple store and 4.8 stars on the Android store.
"At IHG, we believe that technology can redefine hospitality and our IHG One Rewards mobile app is a testament to that. We knew that by placing our app at the center of delivering choice and control to our guests, we could stand out in the industry," said Jolie Fleming, Senior Vice President, Guest Products and Platforms at IHG Hotels & Resorts. "With new features rolling out weekly, we continue to offer greater customization and increased guest engagement through this channel. We have seen positive reviews from our most loyal guests who use the app devotedly and can't travel without it!"
The IHG One Rewards app is packed with new features that set it apart from other hotel apps, including:
New! Travel Wishlists. An in-app exclusive experience, members can now save properties to their Wishlists page to view later – easily allowing them to track future stays or add past stays they enjoyed to their list.
Wi-Fi Auto Connect. When enabled, this feature automatically connects a guest's mobile device to a property's Wi-Fi as soon as they walk through the doors. A one-time sign on is required and takes only two taps to join. More than 1 million users have signed up globally.
Room charges in real time. Guests at more than 3,000 hotels across the Americas can view their room charges as they happen during their stay. Available on the Reservation Summary page, guests can see in-room charges such as room service and dining charges.
Room details and customization. Guests can now easily see the size of the room booked, so there are no surprises when they show up! Plus, IHG has made it easier for guests to personalize their stays, whether that's by booking a room with a view of the mountains or selecting one with more space.
Seamless loyalty benefits experience. IHG One Rewards members can conveniently explore their current loyalty tier benefits and discover the exciting rewards they can unlock as they progress to higher tiers, as well as access and redeem Milestone Rewards, including free nights, food and beverage vouchers and complimentary suite upgrades.
Updated Wallet. Google and Apple Wallet users can add their IHG One Rewards membership and reservations to their digital wallet allowing for convenience and ease during travel.
More languages. The re-architected app is available in 20 languages across six global and Greater China focused app stores.
Jolie Fleming added: "Our app is designed for a new kind of loyalty program and for a new kind of traveler. We designed this app with our customers and are proud to say that it has exceeded expectations. The app's exceptional adoption rate, positive user feedback, and transformative impact on guest experiences has reinforced IHG's standing as a global leader in redefining hospitality through technology."
The IHG One Rewards mobile app also offers members a Best Price Guarantee with no hidden fees; and the ability to track the availability of rooms in their favorite hotels. Plus, guests are able to use guest service support and chat directly with customer care representatives directly in the app. And, for our top tier Diamond Elite members, they get priority access to Dedicated Diamond Support through the app.
The future of the IHG One Rewards mobile app
The mobile app has come out of a transformational year and new updates are always on the horizon. Upcoming features include the launch of Apple AirPlay at IHG Hotels & Resorts and virtual 360° tours of select Hotel Indigo properties globally. Not to mention, guests will soon be able to share Wishlists with friends and family, making the travel booking experience even more engaging and fun.
ABOUT IHG HOTELS & RESORTS
IHG Hotels & Resorts is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in over 100 countries, and more than 1,900 in the development pipeline.
Luxury & Lifestyle: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Regent Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo
Premium: voco hotels, HUALUXE Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, EVEN Hotels
Essentials: Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Garner hotels, avid hotels
Suites: Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Candlewood Suites
Exclusive Partners: Iberostar Beachfront Resorts
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 345,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally.
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Travel Technology
ENNISMORE | September 20, 2023
Ennismore and Shivom LLC to Launch Mama Shelter Downtown LA in 2026, the Second of Its Kind in the City: Ennismore and its partner Shivom LLC are set to open Mama Shelter Downtown LA in 2026, following the success of Mama Shelter LA in 2015.
Mama Shelter Downtown LA, housed in the transformed Mart South Building in Downtown LA, will offer 149 keys, including 145 standard rooms and four suites, known for its lively design, exceptional dining, and entertainment.
Guests can enjoy three lively F&B outlets, including a ground-floor all-day dining restaurant and café, a rooftop bar and terrace with city views, an on-site fitness center, and a parking garage.
Positioned in the heart of Los Angeles' Fashion District, the hotel provides convenient access to over 4,000 retailers, local and national restaurants, iconic venues like the California Market Center, and nearby shopping corridors, enhancing the guest experience in the entertainment capital.
Ennismore, a creative hospitality company, and its partner Shivom LLC have announced the forthcoming Mama Shelter Downtown LA. This venture, set to launch in 2026, marks the second establishment of the popular Mama Shelter brand within the city, following the successful debut of Mama Shelter LA in May 2015. The new Mama Shelter, situated within the transformed Mart South Building in Downtown LA, is poised to offer a dynamic and immersive hospitality experience. Boasting 149 keys, including 145 standard rooms and four suites, it will embody Mama Shelter's signature style, combining vivacious design with exceptional dining and entertainment options.
Cédric Gobilliard, Head of Central & Southern Europe and COO of Ennismore, commented,
"We are thrilled to be opening a second Mama Shelter in LA. Los Angeles is a place to live life to the fullest, carrying so many fundamental values of the Mama brand, including her irreverent, popular, sassy and sexy personality; which fits perfectly with the glamour of LA. We look forward to bringing Mama's spirit to the city again with partner Shivom LLC."
[Source – Cision PR Newswrire]
Mama Shelter Downtown LA will offer three festive F&B outlets to party and play, including an all-day dining restaurant and café on the ground floor, as well as a rooftop bar and terrace with city views. Guests at the hotel will also have access to and use an on-site fitness centre and parking garage. Mama's exuberant interior decorations, homemade, high-quality menus and year-round happenings have become a staple in every one of the destinations. Guests will find all the design elements that distinguish a Mama Shelter, including graffiti carpets and ceilings, comfortable chairs, cartoon masks and one-of-a-kind decorations that reflect Mama's personality, signature food, and Mama nights to get the party started.
As the world's entertainment capital, Los Angeles is an unrivaled cultural center with over 100 museums. Mama Shelter Downtown LA enjoys a prime location within the city's Fashion District, surrounded by more than 4,000 independently owned retailers and a thriving selection of local and national restaurants. Adjacent to the hotel, the California Market Center (CMC) stands as an iconic DTLA landmark, known for hosting premier events and epitomizing the city's rich fashion industry heritage. For those seeking retail therapy, Santee Alley, a shopping corridor, and the Los Angeles Flower District, the largest flower marketplace in the United States, are just a stroll away from Mama Shelter Downtown LA. This strategic positioning ensures that guests have access to an array of attractions and experiences within arm's reach, enriching their stay in this dynamic metropolis.
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