WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS now has a mobile tipping solution for its U.S. and Canadian franchisees, the company said in a statement. Developed by Béné, the platform enables guests to tip hotel team members digitally via their preferred mobile device.
According to consulting firm McKinsey, 82 percent of Americans are now using digital payments, Wyndham said in its statement. The trend was accelerated by the pandemic, said Scott Strickland, Wyndham’s chief information officer, and he expects it will only continue in the coming years.
“Having previously empowered our franchisees to accept digital, contactless payment for stays at their hotels, the next logical step was to find a solution that allows guests to recognize housekeepers, wait staff and other frontline team members in a similar fashion,” Strickland said. “This platform does exactly that and at virtually no cost to franchisees.”
Guests can easily recognize the employee of their choice by scanning a QR code during their stay and choosing how much they would like to tip using credit card, Apple Pay® and Google Paytm. Tips are deposited daily either directly into their individual bank accounts or into the property’s account to be distributed with regular payroll. Platform costs are covered by guests via a small transaction fee, the company said.
The latest initiative is part of Wyndham’s supporting International Housekeepers & Environmental Services Week, a global initiative sponsored by The Indoor Environmental Healthcare and Hospitality Association, dedicated to recognizing the efforts of housekeepers and custodial staff members.
“At the heart of every great hotel is a great team of housekeepers,” said Scott LePage, Wyndham president for the Americas. “This week is all about celebrating them and all that they do for both guests as well as our industry. While we invite everyone to join us in showing their thanks this week, our greater hope is that through initiatives like mobile tipping, we can empower guests by making it easier for them to show their appreciation with every stay, no matter the time of year.”
Earlier this year, Wyndham launched Road Trip Planner and more recently, debuted RevIQ.
In the September issue of Asian Hospitality, the cover story includes information on Gratitude, a similar tipping platform developed by software company UniFocus and launched in June during the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference.
In July, AmericInn by Wyndham launched the State Fair Family contest with a $15,000 family payday.
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