InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to Equip Concierge Teams with Apple iPads

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts 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, travelers can look forward to receiving enhanced local destination advice from the hotel Concierge teams, guided by mobile, multi-touch, content-rich Apple iPads.

Travelers 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, says: "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."