by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 3:57 PM ET, Thu June 21, 2018
Think of it as your very own portal to paradise.
Marriott Caribbean & Latin America Resorts has just launched a new iOS app that uses augmented reality to offer a stunning peek at the region's many dynamic destinations, allowing consumers to explore properties from the palm of their hand.
The new app can be used to preview eight of Marriott's properties in the Caribbean and Mexico.
"With the Portal to Paradise app, we want consumers to be able to explore places that either they might not have previously considered, or ones they've always been interested in seeing, and in a first, users only need their iPhone, and no secondary technology or device, to 'visit' eight of our beautiful resorts in some of the Caribbean and Mexico's most sought-after locations," Diana Plazas, vice president of Brand, Marketing & Digital - Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International, said in a statement.
The app is designed to allow consumers to seamlessly experience a true-to-life taste of what awaits them on vacation, with the chance to "walk" through each property and have 360-degree views of everything around them.
"Being able to 'step into' a resort and uncover the colorful and immersive experiences at each destination elevates the vacation-planning, or simply daydreaming, experience," Alex Fiz, regional vice president, Sales & Marketing - Caribbean & Latin America, Marriott International, said in a statement. "Having this lens also allows travelers and travel planners to break through any preconceived perceptions they might have of a given destination, letting them see reality - untouched. Then, of course, the intention is that they - or their clients - are inspired to book a trip to uncover the Caribbean and Mexico firsthand."
App users are provided a list of the available resorts to choose from, which they can change at any time. Each resort offers six different scenes to explore, including the pools, restaurants, beaches, rooms and spas.
As part of the app experience, an entry point will appear that allows consumers to open a suddenly appearing door to a new destination, to be instantly "transported" onto the sands of Mexico or the Caribbean.
The resorts currently available for exploration include Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Marriott Cancun Resort, JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort and St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino.
"The AR views of physical, real-world environments create an incredibly lifelike experience that allows users to easily imagine actually being there," says Plazas. "Going beyond the typical image gallery on a resort's website, this app places consumers directly on property in such a realistic way that they can almost feel the ocean breezes and hear the waves outside hotel windows."
And in added bit of fun, up until August 15, anyone who downloads the app will be entered into a grand prize drawing for the chance to win a seven-night trip for two at any of the participating resorts, valued at $6000, which includes airfare up to $1200.00, ground transfers, $500 resort credit and breakfast daily.
Marriott is the first to utilize this software platform in the hotel space.
Portal to Paradise is available for download in the Apple App Store for iOS operating systems.
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