Tourism worldwide has increased very noticeably in the past decades. Hotel owners looking to benefit from growing numbers of guests need to offer their guests outstanding comfort. At The Hotel Show Dubai, Lufthansa Industry Solutions will present its IT solutions for the hospitality industry.
Norderstedt, August 24, 2017 – Tourism worldwide has increased very noticeably in the past decades. International tourist arrivals grew by 3.9% to reach a total of 1,235 million, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Some 46 million more tourists (overnight visitors) travelled internationally last year compared to 2015. The annual world turnover of the hotel industry industry in 2016 amounted to about 550 billion US-Dollar.
Hotel operators looking to benefit from this development and succeed in the fiercely competitive market need to constantly find new ways of keeping guests and passengers loyal. Outstanding, modern services are one way of ensuring success. Innovative hospitality and convergence solutions are essential for keeping up with the latest user behavior trends and offering guests exclusive added benefits at all times. Because travelers want to surf the web, use their apps, watch movies and write e-mails, preferably using their own devices. At The Hotel Show Dubai, Lufthansa Industry Solutions will present its IT solutions for the hospitality industry.
The Velimo mobile platform, which was developed by Lufthansa Industry Solutions especially for the tourism industry, offers guests access to a wide range of digital content and smart services. It is also capable of connecting mobile devices and TVs, digital signage displays and room controls. Travelers can use Velimo to control the temperature of their hotel rooms, order breakfast and amenities straight to their rooms, or find out about the hotel and points of interest, to name just a few examples.
Hotels can use Velimo to offer their guests a virtual keycard, which can also make check-in easier and more efficient. The hotel network recognizes the smartphones of guests who have already registered with Velimo as soon as they enter the hotel. They then automatically receive a digital keycard and can access their rooms without having to get in line at the reception desk. It also allows guests to control their air conditioning or order a drink to their room while lounging by the pool.
Smart home at a lifestyle hotel: Virgin runs on Velimo
Thanks to this extensive expertise in IT in the tourism sector and the possibility to get all components from a single source, Virgin Hotels decided to work with Lufthansa Industry Solutions. Virgin Hotels is a lifestyle hotel chain headquartered in Miami. It is part of the globally operating Virgin Group under Richard Branson's supervision, which is well-known for its activities in music, mobile communications and air travel. The first Virgin Hotel opened its doors in Chicago in 2015.
In view of the dynamic development of mobile technologies, the project partners chose to go with the Velimo infotainment system at the flagship hotel in Chicago. The guest service portal connects mobile devices, televisions and the room’s control system. A Virgin Hotels branded app called Lucy, which is available for iOS and Android, acts as a user interface, allowing hotel guests to transform the most common smartphone models into their personal hotel assistants.
Guests can use the Lucy mobile solution to operate the television, change the room’s temperature, book services or request amenities from reception. They can also use Lucy to chat with other hotel guests. Hotel staff can use the app to inform guests quickly and easily about interesting events. Velimo was developed with tourism in mind and was tailored to Virgin Hotels’ processes as part of the project. Velimo’s architecture is designed for flexible expansion as needed.
Lufthansa Industry Solutions is a service provider for IT consulting and system integration. This Lufthansa subsidiary helps its clients with the digital transformation of their companies. Its customer base includes companies both within and outside the Lufthansa Group, as well as more than 200 companies in various lines of business. The company is based in Norderstedt and employs more than 1,300 members of staff at several branch offices in Germany, Switzerland and the USA.