Industry News Premier Hospitality

Criton Launches Pip, the App That is Ruffling Feathers in the Self-Catering Industry

Aspire Executive Lounges, Swissport's global airport hospitality brand, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality, the world’s leading and award-winning membership body for hospitality professionals. Aspire Executive Lounges becomes the first business partner from the airport lounge hospitality sector to join the Institute of Hospitality. Aspire Executive Lounges, the fast-growing Swiss brand in the airport hospitality business, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the world’s leading membership body for professionals working and studying in the hospitality leisure and tourism industry. Aspire Executive Lounges is the first business from the airport lounge sector to become a member of IoH. The collaboration will foster an exchange of expertise and insights: IoH will benefit from Aspire's expertise in airport hospitality, while Aspire, by sharing its wealth of experience with IoH members, can extend its professional network to the hotel and catering sectors and hospitality management schools. “Our vision for Aspire Executive Lounges is clear and simple: We want to deliver a guest experience that is similar to what our guests are used to from their preferred hotels, meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of today’s travelers,” says David Collyer, Global Vice President of Executive Lounges at Swissport International AG. “We strive to deliver an unparalleled experience and set a benchmark that transcends our industry, redefining excellence across the hospitality sector. The Institute of Hospitality is a great network to exchange insights and experiences, and to learn from others in the hospitality sector, which will help us bring our vision to life.” Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality: “Our aspiration at the Institute of Hospitality has been to develop and grow our membership, the number of countries we operate in, and the number of hospitality sectors represented within our organization. With that in mind, it is a natural partnership for us to welcome Aspire into our family, and to learn from their teams, who serve travelers with passion and dedication. As two organizations with similar values, we look forward to collaborating in promoting high levels of excellence within our profession.” With over 30 years of experience, Aspire Executive Lounges is Europe’s largest brand in the airport lounges sector. In 2023, Swissport welcomed more than five million customers worldwide at over 69 lounges in 20 countries. The airport hospitality brand recently opened new lounges at Toronto City Airport in Canada, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Finland. Aspire Executive Lounges recently created a new lounge concept in partnership with the airline alliance oneworld. The first oneworld branded lounge was launched at Incheon Airport in Seoul, Korea, in December 2023. Aspire Executive Lounges is owned by Swissport International AG, the global leader in aviation services, serving airlines at 286 airports in 44 countries across 6 continents
Written by Amy

New clever travel app has flown in to help hosts provide five-star guest experiences

Criton, the UK’s first intuitive app builder for the hospitality and tourism sector, has announced the launch of Pip, a travel app created specifically for self-catering properties. With Pip, self-catering accommodation providers – such as holiday homes, cottages, lodges, AirBnb’s, villas and apartments – can create a personal connection with guests and make sure that they have an incredible stay.

Pip, a ‘local travel hero’, acts as a virtual host, helping owners guide their guests throughout their trip; answering all the questions they might have about their accommodation and providing tailored recommendations about things such as where to eat or what to see and do.

By digitalising everything guests might need into an app, owners are giving guests all the information they need on their own device, at their fingertips.  In singing up to be within Pip, hosts are able to:

  • Give the best experience by having all their accommodation information in one platform
  • Share video walk-throughs of each property and useful how-to guides on operating appliances
  • Create a personal connection with guests and encourage positive reviews
  • Answer guests’ FAQs to free up time to focus on other business needs
  • Provide recommendations about local attractions
  • Promote responsible hosting and reducing their carbon footprint
  • Receive more personal and detailed guest feedback
  • Bid guests goodbye when they fly the nest

Hosts are able to upload guest information via a dedicated content management system and update it at any time at no charge. Guests can download Pip on their device and access all their property’s information by entering a personalised code provided by their host.

Julie Grieve, Founder & CEO of Criton, said “Pip has been designed with the needs of the self-catering sector at the fore.  It is an exciting addition to our product suite, giving hosts a single platform to house all their guest information and build a personal connection with their guests. Our aim is to give independent accommodation providers access to big chain technology and we have created Pip to be easy-to-use and affordable.”

“Guests are more demanding than ever before and, with Pip, we enable self-catering accommodation providers to digitise their guest information, deliver five-star guest experiences and always be in control of the information they give to guest.”

Team Criton is showcasing Pip today at the ASSC Annual Conference at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow and the app is now available to download on the Apple App and Google Play Stores, and as a Progressive Web App (property code 9F3719). Self-catering accommodation providers will be able to digitise their guest information within Pip from the 14th November. Pip is free to download and is available to self-catering accommodation providers for £6 per month (inclusive of VAT). To celebrate Pip flying the nest, Criton have an introductory offer for those that sign up and publish their app by the 31st December 2018 – they will receive access free of charge until the 1st April 2019.

For self-catering accommodation providers interested in using Pip, please register your interest by visiting: www.piptravels.com

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Amy