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Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) today announced it is piloting hotel booking on its award-winning mobile app, CWT To Go. Recent research by CWT suggests 54 percent of travelers and 65 percent of travel managers consider on-the-go mobile booking important, and this development continues CWT's progress toward offering tools that improve the traveler booking experience.
CWT To Go users are able to search for, book and cancel hotel rooms, with search results plotted on a map. Results include the rates and properties included in the travel policy, so users can select from the most relevant content. In addition, CWT's Traveler Services teams are able to retrieve bookings, meaning further support is available to travelers if needed. Booking a hotel is simple, as traveler details, such as name and credit card information, are pulled straight from CWT Portrait, CWT's centralized, global profile management tool. A full roll out of this new functionality to all CWT To Go users is planned for the end of the year.
David Moran, executive vice president, Global Marketing & Enterprise Strategy, CWT said, "Hotel booking for CWT To Go users is a significant addition to creating a seamless and supportive app. Travelers and travel managers alike have told us mobile booking is important to them, and this is a key step in our mission to become the managed travel app of choice."
In addition, the new version of CWT To Go is integrated with CWT Portrait, CWT's traveler profile tool. Travelers have the ability to view and, where available, update their CWT Portrait profiles straight from CWT To Go. The app also indicates the percentage of completed profile fields, reminding users to fill in the missing information. In the days since its launch, 17 percent of those accessing their profile through CWT To Go made an update.
The new enhancements mean travelers will no longer need to carry their travel loyalty cards with them because they are easily accessible on the app; any personal and loyalty card information entered into CWT Portrait will be available to view in CWT To Go, meaning travelers are able to access it on the move. The updated version of CWT To Go also allows users to scan in a new credit card using the device's camera, saving them time by eliminating the need to manually input new card details.
Moran added, "Having access to loyalty card information in CWT To Go is one of our top requests from travelers. With this new functionality, we are helping travelers to access what they need, when they need it, throughout their journey."
The latest version of CWT To Go makes it easier for travelers to use the app for their business and leisure trips, as they can label whole trips, or parts of a trip 'business' or 'leisure'. With reporting on off-channel bookings planned for a future release, this will mean that only business trips will be included in reporting, enabling travel managers to capture more off-channel bookings.
Another new feature is updated flight alerts containing more specific information, which travelers and travel managers rated a critically important feature in CWT's recent mobility study, Tap into mobile service: managed travel in the digital economy.
The new version of CWT To Go includes a fresh, new look for the Android smartphone app which features a travel feed on the home screen that changes depending on the current stage of a trip or upcoming trips. For example, 24 hours before departure, users will see a notification that flight check-in is available, along with the latest flight status and information. The Android platform accounts for 27 percent of CWT To Go's user base, and this redesign gives travelers the information they need, when they need it.
SOURCE: CWT press release
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