In The News: Narita Airport to have an AI chat guide; Best Western launches SureStay Down Under; Hong Kong Airlines uses big data for expansion
AIRPORTS: Narita is world’s first AI airport with launch of chatbot guide Bebot
Bebot helps discovering Japan easy and fun (Image credit: TwilightShow/iStock-Getty Images)
Travellers arriving in Japan’s Narita International Airport from November 14 will get free access to Bebot, the AI chatbot guide to services and transport.
The airport, working in partnership with the chatbot developer Bespoke Inc to launch Bebot, will have the distinction of being the world’s first AI-powered airport. As Japan’s busiest airport handling over 39 million passengers last year, the chatbot guide will be of great help to travellers.
The free AI chat guide (beta) is accessible on any device, including iOS and Android, without the need for any additional downloads. Passengers just need to scan a QR code to gain access to Bebot. The codes are on posters and stickers in various locations around the airport. To begin chatting users have to do verification by either sharing their location or entering their flight number.
Bespoke Inc’s CEO Akemi Tsunagawa said that as more people travel to and explore Japan, Bebot would help discovering the country easy and fun.
“We hope to continue to develop Bebot into your personal concierge in your pocket for all your travel needs.”
Bespoke Inc, one of the fastest growing chatbot startups in the travel industry, used both human chat services to develop Bebot’s AI technology. First released in Aomori in April this year, it was launched in Osaka in June and then across Japan.
Known as Japan’s first hotel chatbot, Bebot is already available as a concierge service in Granbell Hotel across Japan and at Holiday Inn Osaka Namba. Establishments, which use the chatbot, can also customise their own FAQs to make sure guests always have the correct information.
Users can also make requests for recommendations or ask specific questions related to their travel experience by chat, and receive tips, directions and reviews without leaving the chat screen.
Bespoke Inc said that the launch of Bebot at Narita Airport would see the use of AI technology by consumers and travellers significantly expand in Japan.
HOTELS: Best Western enters economy market Down Under with launch of SureStay
The first SureStay will open in early 2018
Best Western Australasia (BWA) has confirmed that SureStay, its new ‘white label’ economy hotel brand, is coming to Australia and New Zealand.
Head of commercial Steve Richards said fruitful discussions are under way with a number of hotels, and anticipates the first property will open in early 2018.
Best Western sees the economy sector as a major network growth opportunity, especially across regional areas with a lot of competition but little brand differentiation.
“We estimate there are 2,000 economy hotels across Australia and New Zealand and that 80% of them are unbranded independents,” added Richards.
“These are the hoteliers who will benefit most by joining SureStay – it’s a new brand with great values that we think has enormous potential for increasing visibility, credibility and bookings for independent economy hotels.”
He said to carry the ‘SureStay Hotel by Best Western’ brand hotels must be rated minimum 3.5 stars on TripAdvisor, offer guests good quality facilities and service, a continental breakfast and free WiFi.
In return, SureStay branded hotels will have marketing support, access to Best Western’s preferred travel agent and corporate agreements, scale, and global distribution through numerous channels including bestwestern.com and the Global Distribution Systems.
“We are also targeting the corporate market with SureStay, giving guests the opportunity to earn or redeem Best Western Rewards points, which is a real point of difference in the economy sector,” Richards said.
SureStay, launched last year, now has 33 properties in the United States, Sweden and Thailand with another 44 in the pipeline.
There are three brand tiers – SureStay Hotel by Best Western, SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western and SureStay Collection by Best Western.
Richards said BWA has decided to keep things simple from a brand management perspective, and only bring entry-level SureStay Hotel by Best Western to Australia and New Zealand.
“We wanted to avoid any kind of confusion with our core brands, Best Western and Best Western Plus, where uniformly higher standards of facilities and service are required.”
AIRLINES: Big data to help Hong Kong Airlines in its expansion to North America
Hong Kong Airlines flies to Los Angeles in December (Image credit: Feverpitched/iStock-Getty Images)
Hong Kong Airlines will launch its inaugural direct flight to Los Angeles, its first destination in the US, in December to be followed by other routes in North America.
To facilitate this expansion and to offer more travel options the airline has sign an agreement with Sabre Corporation to have access to the Sabre MIDT Network Plus data.
Sabre said in a statement that “the purchase is expected to be central in providing the airline with much-needed intelligence as they chart their expansion plans into North America.”
Hong Kong Airlines will now have access to booking data from Sabre agents worldwide for all traveller origins and destinations where the carrier operates at least one segment of the traveller journey.
The data also includes information on preceding and follow -on segments for those routes, which will help Hong Kong Airlines better understand passenger traffic patterns and design their network to meet market demand, provide passengers with increased choices and maximise revenues.
Rakesh Narayanan, vice president of air commerce, Sabre Travel Network Asia, said Sabre’s big data would help Hong Kong Airlines make improvements to marketing, revenue management, network and operational decisions.
