Preferred Hotel Group introduces Total Branded Connectivity

Preferred Hotel Group (PHG) has completed significant enhancements to its distribution systems to achieve Total Branded Connectivity.

With Total Branded Connectivity, the value of PHG brands is leveraged into the electronic booking process across all channels, including the Internet, because it enhances technology with a recognised identity, stated a release.

"The initiative gives member hotels across the brands the capability to offer their guests a highly customised booking experience via iBook, the company's exclusive booking engine. Among its many innovations is an online Concierge feature that allows travellers to create a total package based on their individual interests and needs when they book their hotel stay. Other features include customised content for key group accounts, as well as content driven by the traveller's requested arrival date, the hotel's promotional needs, and more – all within a framework that is fully integrated with the member hotel's own website."

"The essence of hospitality is its focus on the individual. Total Branded Connectivity allows Preferred to do so on an unprecedented level– from the individual member hotel to the individual guest," said John Ueberroth, Chairman and CEO of Preferred Hotel Group.

"It gives our member hotels a real competitive advantage via a customised booking engine and allows them to personalise the guest experience from the moment a traveller begins the booking process. The same way our brand loyalty program, I Prefer, makes it possible for hotels to recognise guests on their very first visit to a Preferred Hotel Group property."

One of the primary features of Preferred Hotel Group's new technology is a Concierge enhancement that automatically displays on the confirmation screen when a guest books a room. This feature allows travellers to enhance their stay by purchasing individual package components, creating an individualised itinerary in advance of their arrival.  Guests can reserve special amenities, spa treatments and more, or request to receive information on local attractions of interest. Each guest then receives an email confirmation outlining the Concierge items booked, along with a link that allows them to continue Concierge "shopping."

Preferred's booking engine, iBook, offers customisation capabilities, integrating its superior technology with a look and feel that maintains the individual hotel's image. On-demand hotel information provides a quick overview of the property, along with an image gallery. Implant processing allows the hotel to provide customised content for key accounts (corporations, groups, travel agencies or any designated user group). Among its other innovative features are:

·           Unlimited customised navigation links that fully integrate iBook with the hotel's homepage.

·           Superior language selection choice (English, Russian, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, German, Italian).

·           The ability to suppress certain fields that don't apply to the individual hotel; for example, smoking/non-smoking room options, children's policies, etc.

·           Date-driven displays that deliver content appropriate to a season, holiday or event, depending upon the requested arrival date.

·           The ability to customise marketing messages, room and rate descriptions, guarantee and cancellation policies, and more.

·           Rate filtering capabilities, giving meeting planners direct access to their negotiated rates

·           Advertising capabilities, allowing properties to promote products and services within the booking process.

iBook also allows customers the flexibility to retrieve, update or modify their iBook reservations after the booking is completed.