One hotel brand is breaking out of the traditional mold and setting itself apart by becoming a community hub.
Paris-based hotel chain AccorHotels has launched a mobile app that aims to help users navigate their everyday lives by allowing them to access services from local store owners as well as AccorHotels properties, Skift reports.
Although travelers may only stay in hotels a few times a year, the app, called AccorLocal, ensures they stay connected to the AccorHotels brand by encouraging people to use the app on a daily, weekly or monthly basis in order to pick up goods or use local services.
This move could help increase occupancy rates and RevPAR for hotels by making them a convenience-driven, sought-after destination for travelers and locals alike.
In addition to being connected to neighborhood merchants, AccorHotels has also forged partnerships with brands that offer yoga classes, dry cleaning and even floral arrangements. Some hoteliers are also implementing lockers similar to Amazon lockers, where guests can ship items and pick them up when ready.
In order to profit directly from the app, AccorHotels has an agreement with merchants to collect a commission of between 10% and 20% per transaction. That commission is split between AccorHotels and the individual hotel owner.
The app already has more than 3,000 active users and features 42 cities and 250 hotels across France. The company plans to expand its services to the rest of Europe before expanding globally over the next two years.
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