Ascott websites get smartphone-friendly

Ascott’s brand websites become tech-savvier with their new online chat facilities and touchscreen-friendly icons.

In a news release, CapitaLand’s wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited, has announced the launch of the mobile versions of its three brand websites – www.the-ascott.com, www.citadines.com and www.somerset.com – as well as an online chat facility on its brand websites to enhance guests’ search and reservation experience.

Guests can now easily access information, enquire and reserve Ascott’s properties worldwide anytime, anywhere. Besides the mobile and online platforms, Ascott has been reaching out to guests through social media for which the company recently won ‘Best Hotel and Lodging Social Media Campaign’ at the 2012 Internet Advertising Competition organised by the US-based Web Marketing Association.

Mr Tony Soh, Ascott’s Chief Corporate Officer, said: “The sophisticated and tech-savvy travellers of today want fast and convenient access to information while on the go. In addition to leveraging social media, Ascott’s mobile-friendly websites and online chat facility will enable us to better reach out to our guests wherever they are, whenever they choose and whatever platform they prefer to use. These two new initiatives are part of our ongoing efforts to deliver the best Ascott experience to our guests at each and every touch-point, including interactions prior to their stay with us.”

Travellers who visit Ascott’s brand websites with their smartphones such as iPhone, Blackberry or Android can easily navigate the websites as they have been optimised for smaller screens with touchscreen-friendly icons. Guests can also view current promotions, check apartment availability, and make or modify a reservation at the touch of their fingertips. In addition, Ascott’s online members can log in to their profiles on the mobile websites for quick reservations.

The mobile websites also have user-friendly features that show guests the nearest Ascott serviced residence based on their location, and interactive maps that display the attractions and amenities around the serviced residence.

To provide guests with real-time support, Ascott’s new online chat facility on its brand websites enables guests to easily communicate with an Ascott representative who will address their queries through instant messaging. This online chat facility is available in five languages – English, Mandarin Chinese, French, German and Spanish.

In the social media realm, guests can connect with Ascott through Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and Facebook. Ascott’s ‘Around our Residences’ Facebook application, which won the ‘Best Hotel and Lodging Social Media Campaign’ award for its ‘Ultimate Resident Contest’, invites guests to share tips on what to see and do around Ascott’s serviced residences and help fellow travellers navigate the cities.

Through the contest, contributors of the top five tips with the most votes from Ascott’s Facebook fans each received a three-night stay at any of the company’s serviced residences. Ascott currently has over 38,000 fans across its Ascott, Citadines and Somerset Facebook pages.