Lady LUX

The love affair with Apple continues.

This coming week, Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, the luxury resort hotel group whose gorgeous properties define luxury anew, will put their concierges one step ahead of the competition when they make the Apple iPad standard on-the-job equipment. It will be offered initially as part of a global pilot program at certain InterContinental properties-namely the InterContinental New York Barclay, the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, InterContinental London Park Lane, and InterContinental Hong Kong-before being used across the board in the company’s Insider Concierge/iPad Program.

The Intercon already offers destination-specific concierge websites and videos, and travelers already know the company for its supreme service and locations in multitudinous spots around the world. Now, the mobile, multi-touch, content-rich toy of all toys, the must-have for techies everywhere, will be in the hands of those in the know to plan an even better stay for those who flock to their doors.

Simon Scoot, Vice President, Global Brand Management at InterContinental Hotels & Resorts couldn’t be more excited for the technological uptick. “The Apple iPad’s fully mobile, multi-touch characteristic appealed to us, and provides a great platform to showcase our Concierge content, which is already available online. We wanted to make sure the iPads didn’t replace the human touch that comes from our Concierge teams, but enhanced their jobs and made it easier for them to deliver more enriching and meaningful service.” he says. Scoot tells that the company is preparing to pilot state-of-the-art Google Maps technology as well as other enhancements. Guests will be able to receive confirmations for booking restaurants, shows and area attractions instantly, have maps and directions to get there sent right to guests once confirmation is received (complete with zoom ability to pinpoint the exact location), and video recommendations from said concierges on places they’d like to steer you to once you arrive.

Best of all, if you are a frequent tweeter (read: one who uses twitter, in case you are somehow unfamiliar with the lingo), you can deliver feedback on your stay to staff members, tell them about additions you’d like to the mini-bar, or praise the 2,100-thread-count sheets by tweeting to twitter.com/WorldConcierge.

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