Category: Branding

Using Augmented Reality to Enhance Guest Experience

Posted on by Taylor Kennedy

INTRODUCTION

3D-augmented-reality-playmearAccording to Mashable, augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video graphics or GPS data.

Here are a few ways to use augmented reality in your hotel and enhance your guests’ experiences.

USE AR BEFORE GUESTS STEP FOOT IN HOTEL

It should be no surprise that a study found that prospective guests want to know the features of a room during their decision-making process. Use AR to make guests feel like they’ve personally visited the property and seen the rooms and amenities from their mobile or desktop device.

Just by pointing your device in a certain way, potential guests can picture themselves sitting at the hotel bar or lobby lounge. If they point the device in a different direction, guests can read reviews and recommendations.

A campaign by Marriott gives its guests the opportunity to “travel the world” through virtual reality glasses.

ADD AUGMENTED REALITY DURING THE STAY

Augmented reality can help hotels improve customer’s convenience, including allowing guests to find their room easily by following a set of arrows on their phone or telling guests when their room was last cleaned.

Here’s another idea: each guest room in the hotel includes a wall map of the surrounding area. If the guest points their device at the wall, they can receive information about things to do around the area.

AR also can be used in other places in the hotel, including the fitness center. Add a screen to the treadmill so guests feel like they’re running on a beach, or put a screen on the stationary bike so guests can compete in the Tour de France.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Revelation PR, Advertising & Social Media offers hotels, B&Bs and resorts services related to media relations, community relations, branding, group sales, SEO/SEM and social media management. Please contact Brian Lee, brian [at] experiencerevelation.com or 608-622-7767.

Have Your Guests Tell Your Brand’s Stories

Posted on by Brian Lee

INTRODUCTION

hotel bar

Whether your hotel is boutique, budget-conscious, business-friendly, luxury or any other type, you should know that guests are the ones who ultimately define your brand. Still, you can shape their experiences so that they’re telling the stories you want them to tell.

Your hotel will need to balance a unique selling proposition (differentiation) with the ability to evolve down the road. Here are some ideas for accomplishing this goal.

Continue reading “Have Your Guests Tell Your Brand’s Stories” →

365 Cracking the Code on Millennial Shopping

Posted on by mbell

365In May, Whole Foods (in my world, known as “Whole Paycheck”) revealed a new business undertaking. The Whole Foods Market Inc. introduced 365, a new grocery chain aimed at offering lower prices while providing a high-technology experience for customers.

When I first learned about the chain, I thought, “Oh, it’s like Whole Foods … but I can afford it!” However, 365 is trying to avoid the title as “the cheaper Whole Foods” and instead provide a new consumer grocery shopping experience.

Instead of wine specialists, iPads are placed in the beverages section to help you find your perfect pairing. Produce is priced per piece or per package rather than by the pound. Meat, cheese and fish are in to-go packages instead of ordering them from butchers, cheese and fishmongers. Stores exclusively use digital pricing, which enables them to change prices instantly. Fast-pay areas include kiosks that only accept Apple Pay and credit cards for a speedy checkout.

According to Reuters, 365’s target market includes cash-strapped “millennial moms” and people who buy from a range of other food sellers, such as Kroger, Walmart, Amazon and meal kit providers.

365 launched its first store in Los Angeles and will be an interesting venture to watch. According to a Fierce Retail study earlier this year, 74 percent of millennials and 80 percent of Generation Z still want brick-and-mortar stores but consider the product interaction to be critical to making a purchase.

As the online marketplace expands to encompass fresh food and produce, maybe this is what grocery stores need to do to ensure a steady supply of shoppers.