Westin Atlanta Airport Provides Valuable Travel Services That Add Revenue
Westin At The Worlds Busiest Airport Earns Four Diamonds Specializing in Serving Travelers
When the Westin Atlanta Airport completed a $22 million upgrade in 2008, its management team could not know they were preparing for one of the most severe winter travel seasons on record. Between late 2009 and March 2010, thousands of flights were delayed and cancelled across North America due to weather. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest airport in the world and hub for many airlines, felt the effects daily.“We upgraded our Westin to make it the perfect Four-Diamond airport hotel designed specifically for travelers, and our property and staff performed perfectly this past winter,” said Bill Henderson, general manager of the Westin Atlanta Airport. “One travel service we implemented for our guests was real-time airline flight information to help them have more confidence in their travel plans. We added an area in our lobby where we positioned a large high-definition airline flight information display so guests could check their flight times before leaving for the airport, and it proved very valuable this winter.”
Flight information adds revenue
“Our goal in adding flight information screens was to deliver a valuable service and generate revenue,” Henderson said. “When flights are delayed or cancelled, guests stay on property to wait out a new flight time. If they are going to sit in a restaurant and work during the delay, we want it to be in our restaurant.” The Westin Atlanta Airport selected flight information displays by Flyte Systems, the leading provider of airport travel information displays and digital signage content for the hospitality industry, digital signage, convention centers and related businesses.
Guests extend stay if flights are cancelled
The property’s staff also relies on the FlyteBoard airport flight information. “Our managers watch the lobby FlyteBoard to track the number of cancellations and prepare for distressed passengers,” Henderson said. “Some nights we picked up 175 distressed rooms due to cancelled flights. Our stay-over business also benefits from the flight information. When guests see their flight is cancelled while they are still at the hotel, they usually extend their stay.” The Westin also installed the FlyteChannel airport information service on guest room TVs. “We upgraded to HDTV in 2009 and had our entertainment provider, LodgeNet, add FlyteChannel, which looks great on the flat panel televisions.”
“It is important to give guests accurate information that helps them travel more comfortably,” said Henderson. “It was especially valuable this year when entire regions of the county were closed to air travel. We selected Flyte Systems for our airport information provider because they are widely installed and perform very well. Flyte understands the needs of both travelers and hotels that serve them.”
Real-time Flight Information
What sets Flyte Systems apart from PC-based applications is the ability to post accurate, real-time airline flight arrival and departure information, not FAA-regulated scheduled departure times that do not list delays caused by air traffic control, aircraft maintenance, crew availability and weather.
Flyte Systems offers a suite of products that serve the traveling public: FlyteBoard, FlytePass, FlyteChannel and FlyteTouch.
Many hotel properties also use Flyte Systems’ applications to increase revenue with innovative marketing approaches for distressed travelers. For tips on how to generate revenue by providing guests with Flyte Systems airline information, please log on to the Flyte Systems website at www.flytesystems.com.
About Flyte Systems
The Flyte Systems Division of Industrial Television Services (ITS), based in Chicago, Illinois, is the leading provider of subscription-based environmentally responsible airport flight information displays for the hospitality, convention center and digital signage industries and related businesses. It delivers accurate, instant, airport-centric updates of flight information – not FAA-regulated scheduled departure times that may omit last minute changes. Properties are able to differentiate their products and boost customer loyalty and repeat business with ’glance-and-go’ content critical to a traveler’s day. Flyte Systems’ product suite builds upon ITS’ 50-year history as the leading provider of live flight information to airports, airlines, government agencies, port authorities and other travel-based businesses. Flyte Systems was formed in 2007 to offer new Web-based travel technology and product lines. In addition to using Energy Star-compliant digital displays, Flyte products help significantly reduce energy consumption by eliminating unnecessary trips to the airport. Customers include Marriott, Hyatt, Westin, Embassy Suites, Holiday Inn, Days Inn, Hilton, Doubletree, Hotel Sofitel, Adam’s Mark, Renaissance and Crowne Plaza hotels, independent properties, convention centers and transportation centers.
About Westin Atlanta Airport
The Westin Atlanta Airport is ideally located less than two miles from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and only 10 minutes from downtown Atlanta and its major attractions. Its newly renovated guest rooms are complete with flat screen televisions, new carpeting, artwork, and signature style furniture and amenities including the Westin Heavenly Bed® and Heavenly Bath®.
Contact:
Flyte Systems
Debbie Kalish, Account Executive
3515 Martens Street
Franklin Park, IL 60131
Phone: (877) 463-5983
Email: [email protected]
www.flytesystems.com
Westin Atlanta Airport
4736 Best Road
Atlanta, GA 30337
Phone: (404) 762-7676 or (866) 716-8128
http://www.westinatlantaairport.com
Media Contact:
Julie Keyser-Squires, APR
Softscribe Inc.
180 River Springs Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30328
Twitter: @Juliesquires
Phone: (404)256-5512
Email: Julie(at)softscribeinc(dot)com
softscribeinc(dot)com
marketingsnacks(dot)com
