Cheval Residences launches new AI-enabled website and app

Cheval Residences has launched the new website and integration of the world’s first AI booking engine, as well as an interactive guest welcome app powered by Criton

Luxury serviced apartment specialist Cheval Residences has announced the launch of its new website (www.chevalresidences.com) with the integration of the world’s first booking engine powered by artificial intelligence (AI), Allora. Cheval has also become the first serviced apartment brand to adopt the new multiple property functionality built by Criton, the UK’s first app builder for the hospitality industry.

With locations across London, Cheval Residences is the first serviced apartment group to adopt the new technology, with eight of its luxury properties contained within the app. Using the integrated instant messaging service, guests will be able to contact the concierge, housekeeping and maintenance teams using the app from within their apartment or on the go. As well as this, there is also a request function which allows guests to order additional services or items to personalise their stay, at the touch of a button. Additional features of Cheval’s new app include a local area guide plus all the information they need about their stay and instant booking links, making the booking journey swift and simple.

Guests at any Cheval property can download the app from today on their personal mobile device to find out everything they need to know about Cheval Residences and their stay, or they can review information on other Cheval locations when considering a future visit.

In addition, the brand new Cheval Residences website has a fresh new look and the design has been upgraded to exceed user expectations, always keeping the mobile experience at the forefront.  The AI elements have been integrated by booking engine and conversion specialists, Avvio. Allora is an intelligent booking engine displaying personalised content based on user interactions, with automatic location-based translation and other specialist functions putting it at the forefront of online booking technology.

The new website is designed to improve the customer’s online journey and experience while increasing the number of visitors that convert into customers.  This enables Cheval to compete more effectively in a competitive online market place, growing their direct channel and reducing reliance on Online Travel Agent (OTA) business. Cheval Residences’ target is to reduce the contribution of OTAs to less than 10% of booked revenue by 2019. The AI booking engine will heighten the guest experience as it learns from users’ every interaction, adapting to specific interests and then providing the necessary guest experience tailored to that user.

As well as this, Cheval has evolved with ongoing social media trends and this is reflected in the new website design. Cheval has incorporated social channels into the new website with a live Instagram feed and all content is directly shareable from the landing pages. Cheval has also upgraded and integrated its growing blog, which users will be able to access with ease. The website allows Cheval to showcase its continuous investment in visual assets with 360 tours readily available for users.

George Westwell, director at Cheval Residences, commented: “Our guest experience is always of the upmost importance to us from start to finish, and for many, our website is the first impression they will get of both our accommodation and the brand. With the inclusion of Allora across our website, the customer journey becomes tailored to the individual from the off-set, so users get a sense of personalisation even ahead of their stay. We have now developed a new Cheval app in partnership with Criton, with the focus on further enhancing the guest experience”.

Frank Reeves, Co-founder and CEO of Avvio commented, “We’re delighted to have been chosen as the partner of choice for Cheval Residences once again. It’s been fantastic to work with their forward-thinking team on such an exciting project particularly with the next generation of booking engine that we’ve been developing over the past two years. We’re confident that we will continue our successful relationship between Cheval Residences and Avvio”.

Julie Grieve, founder & CEO of Criton, said: “Our new product will be transformative for groups of serviced apartments and hotels as they wrap all guest-facing technology into one unique portal, and we are delighted that the team at Cheval Residences is already benefiting from this new functionality. Group functionality is a game-changer for multisite operators like Cheval, enabling them to showcase the unique personality of each property while reinforcing their brand, increasing direct bookings and driving loyalty from new and repeat guests.”