Tech initiatives at K West Hotel & Spa improve staff productivity
The West London hotel installed Crave In-Room tablets in all 219 of its bedrooms last September as part of its plan to become ‘one of the most high-tech hotels in the capital’ and says the move has been hugely beneficial to both guests and staff.
Tablets act as a directory for guests but also allow them to request spa treatments and order room service, which the hotel says frees staff up to deliver better service.
“The tablets have proved to be an incredibly efficient communication tool. Guests will find answers to almost any question they might have with a click of a button, as they contain concise information on the facilities within the hotel,” said a spokesperson for the hotel.
“Additionally, guests can plan their day in the comfort of their guestroom. Gone are the days of queuing at the concierge desk.
“This means our front of house staff are far more productive in their roles and have more time to spend welcoming guests through the door and making each of our customers feel special. The tablets are also able to inform guests of special time-limited deals, benefiting both our guests and our hotel.”
Technology investment
Two months ago K West also started offering guests the use of free smartphones. The phones allow guests to make free local phone calls, use unlimited mobile internet and access a free digital city guide. Guests can also make free IDD calls to France, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Australia and Hong Kong.
Our guests have always loved the fact that we stay ahead of competition when it comes to technology and the feedback has been hugely positive. The Free Pocket Phones have been particularly well received.
"The difference between our phones and personal smart phones is that guests are able to benefit from free IDD calls to France, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Australia and Hong Kong. We have many international visitors who regularly stay with us and they have greatly appreciated this luxury. Guests are also able to use these phones without using their own data or battery – which is always helpful."
As well as in-room devices, the hotel offers three meeting spaces of varying capacities, plus The Library, which all feature high-tech capabilities, such as the SmartKapp smart board which allows notes drawn on the board to be automatically saved onto a phone or tablet.
The hotel said the benefits of technology outweighed the financial investment as it helped staff and improved the experience for guests.
"All the new technology helps us engage with our guests, find out more about what they like and tailor their experience accordingly. It also means that all requests can be dealt with in an even more efficient and timely manner," said a spokesperson.
