To some, the concepts of contactless and customer service are mutually exclusive, however in the ‘new normal’ of social distancing, the future of hospitality is dependent on a compromise, or hybrid, or the two coming into existence.
The advances of technology in recent years has enabled much in the way of traditional hotel customs – perhaps chiefly the check in and out experience, to be taken online and adapted to suit our ubiquitous smartphone culture.
As global travel once again finds its feet, hotels are adapting to the new contactless environment and the world of tech options available. There are apps for managing your flights, apps for hotels, attractions, tours, directions, restaurant and more. Enough to fill your phone.
Or there’s Vamoos. One app that does the whole lot.
For Vamoos, the backbone of its self-titled app is about addressing and solving travel bugbears, combining all of the best parts of a holiday into one app. The part-travel-agent, part-concierge platform has reached Australian shores after effectively conquering its home market in the UK and is reaching out to the local hotel industry to hop on for the ride.
Key features of the app for hotels include opening a communication channel between a property and its guests, allowing concierges and sales to reach out and build the customer relationship ahead of arrival. This communication can be used to recommend special on-property deals such as meals, upsells and upgrades as well as recommended tours, activities and places to see during their visit, which can be set up to book directly through the app. Safety and social distancing guidelines can also be incorporated to ensure guests are aware of each property’s policies.
Hotels can load their guest WiFi access, restaurant and spa menus and activity lists into the app. A guest can even switch on a digital ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign within the app, which will inform the hotel when the guest requires some privacy and no contact. The app can reduce a hotel’s paper costs and provide an opportunity to upskill staff on new ways to communicate with guests.
For guests themselves, the app allows them to advise of special requests for their stay and ask questions as needed via the 24/7 messaging service. Vamoos can also be integrated with a hotel’s API systems to make updating information simple.
“Vamoos is being used by both independent hotels and ones in groups,” said Vamoos Director, Alisdair Luxmoore.
“Some of the large marketing groups already have [an] app but they are generally focused on helping people book a stay, whereas Vamoos is 100% focused on the build up to the stay and the time during and afterwards.”
“Vamoos is designed to take the knowledge of the concierge and the rest of the team and make sure guests can access it as easily as possible,” Luxmoore added.
“For example, we offer a POI’s interest list where hotels can add their tips on best restaurants and bars and of course it links straight to the map on the app. This is useful at any time but now where it may be more difficult to access the front desk team, it makes it even more important.”
Guests can also access a range of helpful feature to improve their holiday, starting with an exciting countdown clock to build the anticipation, access local weather and share their itinerary with friends and family. While in town, travellers can access customisable maps, driving directions and load all their travel documents in one app, which can be sorted to make locating information easy in a hurry.
See how Vamoos has worked for Tewkesbury Park in Gloucestershire – CLICK HERE.
“The hotels we work with can readily integrate with other systems like door lock programmes [and] remote check-in/check-out but it is important to emphasise the best way to drive loyalty is not a points scheme but by delivering the best possible service before, during and after a visit. That is where Vamoos works harder than any other app currently available,” Luxmoore said.
Vamoos is now available to download from the Apple iTunes and Google Play stores. To learn more and begin your one-month free trial, CLICK HERE.