Shangri-La's sales tool of the future

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced what is thought to be the first integration of virtual reality experiences into worldwide hotel sales efforts.

The group has rolled out Samsung Gear VR headsets across all its global sales offices and produced immersive 360-degree videos for over a quarter of its 94 hotels and resorts. Nearly half of the hotel portfolio will have VR videos available by January, with full rollout to be completed in 2016.

Powered by Oculus, the VR headsets enable travel advisers, meeting planners and potential corporate clients to virtually experience Shangri-La hotels and destinations around the world. They will be used as promotional and educational tools at tradeshows, industry events and sales meetings, instantly "transporting" advisers to places such as the rooftop of Jokhang Temple in Lhasa or the Grand Ballroom in Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong. Travel advisers will also be able to share the 360-degree videos with their customers via the Shangri-La's VR website.

The videos can be watched online on a 360-degree video player or, for a fully immersive experience, freely downloaded and viewed on a VR headset that uses the Oculus platform.

"Shangri-La is investing significantly in technology and the future of travel content, which is why we are embracing virtual reality on this scale," said Steven Taylor, chief marketing officer of Shangri-La International Hotel Management. "VR is a revolutionary new sales tool. The technology has evolved so that it is now affordable, light and portable; virtual reality is on the cusp of becoming more mainstream."

"We want to employ innovative technology in a way that is meaningful to our trade partners and beneficial to consumers," said Taylor. "Not only will Shangri-La's immersive 360-degree videos provide travel experts a better understanding of the Shangri-La product and experience, but there are many creative applications."

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/14/2015 page10)