Global Update
lGBT ouTreAch
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants , San Francisco , has announced a new partnership with The Trevor Project , a U . S . organization dedicated to providing crisis intervention and suicide-prevention services to lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender and questioning youth ages 13 to 24 .
Kimpton first got involved with The Trevor Project last year in a more informal way , but this year Kimpton is serving as the presenting sponsor of Trevor Ambassadors , volunteer groups in major U . S . cities that work to expand Trevor ’ s initiatives . Kimpton ’ s LGBT employee
Actor Jeremy Jordan poses during the TrevorLIVE fundraising kickoff event at the Eventi , a Kimpton Hotel , in April .
resource group also will work with existing Trevor Ambassadors at the local level to help with community outreach and regional fundraising . The company has publicized the initiative via social media and its Life Is Suite blog , according to Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations Barry Pollard , and
Getty Images guests can support The Trevor Project by using a rate code when booking directly through Kimpton . Kimpton is donating US $ 5 for every room reserved with the code , and guests receive a 10 % discount . Just a few weeks into the offer , more than 25 rooms had been booked with the code .
“ I think what it says is that Kimpton is open and welcoming to all families , and we hope our partners allow LGBT youth to thrive in an accepting , loving environment ,” Pollard says . “ That ’ s the broader message .”
Pollard adds Kimpton will likely become increasingly involved with The Trevor Project going forward , and near term , the two organizations are using their social media channels to spotlight employees who demonstrate courage in their lifestyles via the Live Authentically campaign through the fall .
The cosT To develop This Technology was noT nearly as significanT as The assurance and convenience our guesTs will receive .
– Julie Cary , la Quinta Holdings
AlreAdy reAdy
La Quinta Inns & Suites in March began rolling out its Ready For You alerts , which notify guests immediately when their guestroom is ready for check-in .
The feature is available only when booking a room via LQ . com . Guests can select a time window indicating their arrival at the hotel and choose to receive either an email or text message alert .
La Quinta Holdings , Irving , Texas , says housekeeping is often able to prepare early-checkout guestrooms before the property ’ s standard check-in time , so with that in mind it developed the offering for guests arriving early . La Quinta says customer research conducted with its loyalty program La Quinta Returns indicated guests would value this type of service as a convenience that makes them feel assured .
“ Usage of the new feature has exceeded our expectations ,” says Julie Cary , La Quinta ’ s executive vice president and chief marketing officer . “ The cost to develop this technology was not nearly as significant as the assurance and convenience our guests will receive by being notified in advance when their room is ready . Ready for You has met our ROI hurdles while improving our guest experience .”
14 HOTELS July / August 2014 www . hotelsmag . com