Hilton Worldwide and Uber have expanded their partnership to further bring together their respective mobile apps. In a first for the hospitality industry, Hilton HHonors members can now order an Uber straight from the HHonors app, and Uber riders can now view their hotel stay information and check-in, all accessed via the Uber app en route to their hotel. The expanded partnership builds on the success of the companies’ Local Scene and Ride Reminder partnership – digital features more than 250,000 travelers within the U.S. have already used.
“The success of our Uber partnership is rooted in a shared passion for finding new ways to take friction out of travel,” said Rich DiStefano, senior director of Mobile Products at Hilton Worldwide. “By further integrating our mobile apps, we’re simplifying the steps it takes for our Hilton HHonors members to obtain the quick information they seek, ultimately providing them with a better experience.”
When a traveler’s reservation reminder time approaches, the Uber app pre-sets the hotel as the recommended destination. Once in an Uber, the guest can tap the “view stay details” option in the Uber app, which then – via the HHonors integration – guides guests to the HHonors app to check-in, choose their room and request a Digital Key, all while on their way to the hotel.
The integrated apps are the next step in Hilton and Uber’s partnership, which began in September 2015 with Local Scene and Ride Reminder, both of which have seen significant usage. Within four months of its launch, almost one-fifth of HHonors members who engaged with the app prior to or during their stay explored the Local Scene, a list of the most popular venues in a market based on the destinations of Uber riders in that area. The level of Local Scene usage made the tool one of the top performing features on the Hilton HHonors app. Additionally, over 2,000 Ride Reminders, or notifications that are synced with Hilton hotel bookings to remind travelers to book an Uber to and from their hotel, were set within the first two weeks of launch. Of the guests that have set a reminder, 58 percent of them have set an additional reminder, showing strong repeat engagement.
“We are always looking for ways to make the travel experience better, and are happy to have found such a strong, inventive partner in Hilton,” said Jonathan DiOrio, head of Travel Partnerships at Uber. “Following the success of Local Scene and Ride Reminder, we are taking an additional step forward in our integration by offering guests access to their stay details while they are in an Uber.”
To receive the benefits of the integrated features, guests must have both the Hilton HHonors and Uber apps, and a current hotel reservation under their HHonors account. Hilton HHonors is free to enroll and available to all guests. HHonors members who book directly with Hilton receive an exclusive discounted rate, free standard Wi-Fi, Points and access to digital tools including digital check-in, Digital Key and Local Scene.
