Guests staying at Swissotel Sydney will be able to take advantage of Handy, a new mobile app compendium packed with customised city guides and local experiences, thanks to a new partnership with Hong Kong startup, Tink Labs Limited.
“It is no secret that Millennials are changing the way we travel, if they have not already.” said General Manager, Ross Buchanan. “As a leading accommodation provider, we are delighted to go out in front and provide our guests with both seamless connectivity and a local experience.”
First launched in September 2012, Handy was created to solve an age-old traveller’s problem – hassle-free travelling. “Our belief is that it’s not about where you travel, it’s how you travel.” said Terence Kwok, Founder and CEO of Tink Labs. “We started with the question, ‘How can I travel like a local?’, and today we have an answer for these travellers.”
The complimentary service enables visitors to travel like a local finding places and information they need at no cost. Travellers can explore customised city guides on Handy, curated by experienced content provider LUXOS to discover new experiences anytime, anywhere. Visitors can also stay connected with free unlimited local and international calls, free internet access, speed dial to hotel services, and local emergency and essential travel information.
“Our guests will be able to use this service as soon as they check in and stay connected throughout their entire stay.” said Buchanan. “They can enjoy Sydney as a premier travel destination, discover local gems on the go and share their travel experiences without the hassle of finding connectivity or having to pay hefty mobile data charges.”
The service is also part of a digital deployment that supports the hotel’s commitment to becoming more sustainable by reducing the need for printed materials such as in-room directories, and providing useful information about the hotel’s full range of facilities at a touch of a button. Guests will also benefit from real-time exclusive and personalised offers sent through the device which they can enjoy during their stay.
To date, Handy is already available in 80 countries, covering 600,000 rooms and helped 18 million global travellers to stay connected. Swissotel, now part of AccorHotels, is the first large chain to launch the service in Sydney and will be available for travellers from 8 January.