AccorHotels launches 'Handy' in Africa

AccorHotels in Africa has announced a partnership with handy, a tailor-made technology solution for the hotel industry, to offer visitors a redefined guest experience.

Currently available for members of Le Club, the group’s global loyalty programme, benefits include the free usage of a mobile phone with unlimited international calls, uninterrupted data and direct access to content.

Enhancing the mobile ecosystem across Africa
According to recent research, it is estimated that 46 per cent of the African population (more than half a billion people) have subscribed to mobile services with this number expecting to reach 725 million by 2020. AccorHotels’ partnership with handy is destined not only to provide a seamless and connected experience for guests but to also contribute to the growing strength of the mobile eco-system in Africa.

“The values of AccorHotels over the past 50 years reflects the spirit of entrepreneurship and enhancing the customer experience. Based on this principle, our partnership with handy will provide immense meaning and personalisation for our guests as it fits into our ongoing digital strategy to rethink and transform the guest journey, at every stage of their stay. This is a completely new type of partnership that addresses the needs of African travellers and our aim is to deliver this service to our entire portfolio in Africa by 2018.” said Olivier Granet, managing director and chief operating officer for AccorHotels Middle East and Africa.

“We know that connectivity is more important than ever for an enriched travel experience in today’s digital age,” said Terence Kwok, founder and CEO of Tink Labs. “Handy will connect AccorHotels African travellers so that they can enjoy Africa as a premier travel destination, revealing local gems on the go and sharing their experiences, while freeing them from the hassles of finding connectivity and the information that they need.”

A smartphone made available for any AccorHotels reservation in Africa

Currently available today in six hotels (two hotels in Mauritius: the Sofitel Mauritius L’Impérial Resort & Spa and the SO Sofitel Mauritius; and four hotels in Morocco: the Sofitel Agadir Royal Bay Resort, the Sofitel Tamuda Bay and the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses), handy will be rolled out continent-wide with full deployment by June 2018.

Guests of Le Club can stay connected with a smartphone, provided free of charge, allowing for unlimited local and international calls to their family and friends as well as unlimited internet even outside the hotel. Other features of handy include destination specific content with easy navigation, exclusive promotions for hotel offerings and on-the-go concierge service.

“With handy, our clients and guests can permanently stay connected to their family and friends during their stay at an Accor hotel.  Our aim is to simplify the guest experience and make it a positive once, thereby contributing to the travel industry in Africa.” Added Souleymane Khol, vice president, Sales, Marketing & Distribution for AccorHotels Africa.

Part of a larger global digital strategy
Since 2014, AccorHotels has embarked on an ambitious digital strategy based on a five-year-plan to improve the digital experience of its customers, partners and employees who are increasingly connected and exposed to online booking and price comparison websites. AccorHotels’ digital plan offers tools that make the Group a real travel companion from the hotel selection process starting before the trip, to during as well as after the trip, including:

• 80 travel guides available on the AccorHotels.com mobile app
• Rapid online check-in and check-out across 3,000 hotels worldwide to date: personalized and simplified welcome of customers registered on AccorHotels.com
• One click payment solution with ‘E-wallet’, a personal digital wallet for 250,000 customers in France.
• Digitalised hotel services offered through one unique mobile app (room service, restaurant menus, taxi, spa…) already downloaded more than 5 millions times.
• AccorHotels Media: 6,000 magazines and newspapers available free of charge through the mobile app. - TradeArabia News Service