These apps and digital services allow technology to do the heavy lifting when it comes to traveling and travel planning.
For You
The AXUS Travel App allows travel agents to electronically create, share and manage customized itineraries. AXUS Travel App: With the AXUS Travel App, travel agents can electronically create, share and manage customized itineraries directly on the app, through the web or by PDF. Not only does AXUS save time by allowing you to consolidate customer records, view confirmed itineraries in real time, and quickly and conveniently update guests’ itinerary with any changes, but it also places important travel details in the palm of your client’s hand along with relevant features like flight notifications, driving directions, destination guides, and in-app messaging for you to communicate with them anytime, from anywhere. In addition, AXUS customizes every itinerary with your logo. For more information, visit axustravelapp.com.
- Umapped: MTravel has partnered with Umapped to roll out a new mobile itinerary and trip publisher for independent travel professionals. Umapped provides travel agents and their clients, with an easy-to-use tool to create customized travel itineraries that can be accessed via the web, mobile and as offline PDFs. Itineraries are branded with agents’ agency name and logo and allow for collaboration between agents and clients, as well as supplier partners. Regularly used destination content may be stored in the Umapped documents library, giving agents the option to include industry-vetted content for their travelers. Umapped also integrates with several GDS platforms and ClientBase, with agents easily adding confirmed and proposed bookings for transportation, accommodation, activities, insurance and more. For more information, visit umapped.com.
For Your Client
- Fitness on Demand: Guests of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown can try a new workout every day of their stay thanks to a partnership with Fitness on Demand. The Marriott hotel, which opened in a landmark 1924 building last fall, offers guests an interactive library of more than 1,000 solo and group classes that they can call up 24-hours a day. Projected onto a 65-inch screen, the classes range from Insanity, P90X, PLYOGA, The Dancers Workout, Zumba and boot camps to yoga, meditation and low-impact workouts. Adding to the experience is cutting-edge equipment by Life Fitness, SYNRGY 360 cross-training outlet and breathtaking downtown views from the top-floor fitness center. Rates start at $129 per night. For more information, call (315) 474-2424 or visit marriottsyracusedowntown.com.
- Apple Watch Valet and iPad Self-Service Kiosks: Red Lion Hotels Corporation (RLHC) is arming valet staff with Apple Watches and introducing self-service iPad kiosks for lobby areas. Using the Monscierge Connect Staff app, valet staff can manage and perform car retrieval requests from their hotel-issued Apple Watch without physically being present at the hotel’s valet stand, which reduces the potential waiting period for guests’ car return. The hospitality company is also introducing self-service iPad kiosks for guests at the Hotel RL brand to use for quick and convenient check-in. Guests can also contact customer support from the iPad if they have questions, need assistance, or want to submit a room upgrade request. In addition, RLHC has begun the deployment of Apple TV throughout hotels within its Hotel RL brand and updated its Hello Rewards App for iOS to allows guests to conveniently check in and check out right from their iPhone, as well as manage their loyalty membership account and redeem rewards. RLHC is also introducing digital keys for the first time in the Hello Rewards app, allowing guests to completely bypass the registration desk and use their iPhone to unlock their door. The digital key feature will be available throughout Hotel RL properties. For more information, visit rlhco.com.
- KLM Care Tag: If you book your clients to Amsterdam this September through KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, make sure to mention the KLM Care Tag. The smart audio luggage tag provides visitors with information on how to travel around the city using an offline GPS module and a speaker. The KLM crew has filled the KLM Care Tag with practical advice about the city of Amsterdam, including hundreds of insightful tips ranging from where busy intersections with a lot of cyclists are to where and how to lock your bike and when you should watch out for pickpockets. The tag is triggered at specific locations around the city, so guests need simply to attach the tag to their luggage, backpack or purse and wander to find out important information, such as where to taste local food for free, where to see great street art, or where to rent a bike or boat. The KLM care tag will become available in September, and can be ordered online for free for those traveling to Amsterdam. For more information, visit klm.com.
