Virgin Hotels' App Upgrade Allows Guests to Bypass Front Desk and Check-In
Virgin Hotels, the growing lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson, announces an updated version of their mobile app Lucy, rolling out even more contactless features for guests to employ from their own smartphones. The updated app, which the hotel launched in 2015 as one's "personal comfort assistant," will debut alongside the recent reopening of Virgin Hotels Dallas and the grand opening of Virgin Hotels Nashville this July.
The upgraded app will bring some exciting new features; mobile key functionality and chamber selection will be available when joining Virgin Hotels' Loyalty and Preferences program, The Know. The Know members can avoid touching and keeping track of a plastic room key, as Lucy can now handle everything from checking in to unlocking the room directly with mobile key capabilities.
For all hotel guests, Lucy can also control the lights from the palm of their hand, unveiling three new lighting themes: "Get Lit," a bright, master setting; "Get in the Mood," a dimmed, relaxed setting; and "Do Not Disturb," a dark setting for sleep. These features join Lucy's current capabilities including "Get Comfy" controls (thermostat and TV remote functionality) and the ability to order room service anywhere on property.
Virgin Hotels understands that now more than ever, comfort and peace of mind is crucial as people look to begin traveling again. With these new app functions, guests will be able to effectively socially distance and minimize the use of shared devices such as remotes, while still ensuring their stay is hospitable and enjoyable.
Moreover, users of the Lucy app can access Apple Music and jam out to their playlists, exercise in the hotel fitness center with custom routines powered by Fitbod, and purchase hotel gift cards.
"Since the very beginning, Lucy has brought a personal touch to each guest. Now she'll have the ability to help our guests personalize their stay entirely, while also helping them to feel safe and comfortable when traveling," stated Denise Walker, Vice President of Information Technology. "Virgin Hotels has always prioritized the ease of stay and overall guest experience, so we are incredibly enthusiastic about this new rollout."
The updated mobile app will debut tied to the Virgin Hotels Nashville grand opening on July 1st, 2020, while simultaneously launching at Virgin Hotels Dallas which reopened recently. All future hotel openings will be fully compatible with the new mobile app offerings as well. Virgin Hotels Chicago will see an individual rollout of the functionalities with all above capabilities implemented later in July 2020. The new version of the app also includes the opportunity for guests to provide feedback on their stay in real time, letting the properties work to improve the guest experience almost immediately.
Virgin Hotels' mobile app Lucy will keep its original features, including the ability to book stays, provide local recommendations, order room service, initiate service requests, and provide an up-to-date look at individual hotel happenings, news and programming.