A SOPHISTICATED electronic hotel concierge service in the Middle East has been launched in Abu Dhabi. Located in the lobby at the Novotel Abu Dhabi Al Bustan, the 42-inch touchscreen allows guests to access a huge amount of information in 15 languages. And it can also be downloaded as a free app to iOS and Android devices.
The service allows guests to navigate through an array of hotel information and services, in addition to discovering the area surrounding the hotel – including recommendations, maps and directions.Split into six screens, users can choose from the following categories: hotel information, recommendations, maps and directions, flight information, weather and social postcards.The ‘Social Postcard’ allows guests to send personalised messages via social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, as well as by e-mail.The new initiative is the first in the Middle East and is already proving popular with guests, says hotel general manager Dominique Mercier.“We welcomed our first tourist group on our opening day and the virtual concierge was an instant success, with the entire group engaging in the service.”“It is in keeping with the tech-savvy traveller that we usually receive at our property and allows our guests to have actual maps, information and up-to-date information in the palm of their hand,” continues Mercier. The virtual concierge is a new initiative from Accor and will be rolled out across the Novotel Group moving forward.