Bangkok--19 Apr--Vivaldi PR
New Panpacific.com makes online reservations faster, easier and more convenient
Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts today launched its enhanced website (panpacific.com), which will make travel planning faster, easier and more convenient for its customers, resulting in stronger brand loyalty and value. In the past 12 months, Pan Pacific has invested close to US$1 million in e-commerce and distribution infrastructure and resources to deliver e-initiatives including this technologically advanced online platform for the benefit of its customers.
Analysts have forecasted that hotel online reservations will reach US$15 billion, an increase from 7% to 16% by 2007. This bodes well for Pan Pacific as the website enhancement will help capture a bigger share of brand direct online booking, potentially increasing its year on year growth for this distribution channel. The group achieved a 35% year-on-year growth for its brand direct online booking in 2006.
“The new panpacific.com is a reflection of our commitment to our customers and a response to their needs. The user-friendly website will greatly improve the customer’s online experience as that supports their expectations of continued high quality service from the Pan Pacific brand. Visitors to the enhanced website will appreciate better functionalities and navigation and a more refreshing and contemporary look and feel. Overall, they will enjoy a more pleasurable online experience,” states Kevin Croley, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts.
Mr. Samir Wildermann, General Manager Pan Pacific Bangkok, said “Pan Pacific Bangkok clientele will certainly benefit from the new user experience. Our brand is moving from strength to strength as growth in direct online bookings remains strong. Many of our customers from markets such as Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong are booking rooms online as routinely as they check emails. We are launching an easy to use solution so they may check the room availability information anywhere anytime. We are getting good feedback from our customers due to the added convenience it brings. Our new website launch follows the successful launch of its online Best Rate Guarantee policy and eDirect.
The website was redeveloped over a period of nine months following detailed research into customer needs and preferences. Guests logging on to panpacific.com can choose their language of choice, be it English or Japanese, to browse and book Pan Pacific hotels and can enjoy the following:
- More efficient site navigation for ease of locating information
- Aesthetically improved interface that matches Pan Pacific’s luxury status
- Dynamic content that is updated frequently eg. latest promotions and room rates in real time
- Enhanced user-friendly functionalities and page layout
- Speedy booking process in just three easy steps
- Review a summary of total cost of stay for multiple stays
- Room type comparison, which makes room selection easier
- Best Rate Guarantee ensures customers the lowest rates publicly available on the Internet
- View/modify a reservation anywhere, anytime
- Preferences by Pan Pacific allows guests to design and personalise their hotel stay
- Store personal profile so that guests do not need to provide personal information each time they make a reservation
- Protection on customers’ security and privacy
“We have leveraged cutting-edge technology to lay the foundation for increase in customer engagement including a more dynamic reward and recognition programme. In the next phase, customers can look forward to more interactive functionalities on the website to facilitate their hotel reservation and to create a more personalised experience. e-commerce will remain a priority for us as we continue to roll out new e-initiatives to empower our customers,” added Croley.
The enhanced website is part of the Group’s e-commerce strategy in developing a robust and scalable system with improved online marketing, reservations and CRM capabilities. The website follows the successful launch of its online Best Rate Guarantee policy and eDirect by Pan Pacific, which have received positive customer feedback. The new website is also part of Pan Pacific’s new distribution system ensuring that all channels are integrated on a single platform for efficiency in the reservation process and allowing customers to have access to real time information on room availability.
About Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts
Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts currently encompasses 19 hotels (14 managed properties and five marketing affiliates) in 11 countries throughout Asia, the Pacific and North America.
In our business strategy, we take pride in balancing the needs of all our stakeholders; our owners, our guests, our associates and the communities in which we operate. We set priorities according to the needs of the time, and our scale enables us to adapt our strategies as these needs change.
At Pan Pacific, we believe in personalised care, and we deliver this through a focused and detailed approach to operations and management, which sets us apart from other companies. We give freedom, but demand accountability. We are different where differences count.
You can visit Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts at panpacific.com or call 001 800 7722 4342. Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance.
For more information, please contact:
Korawee Mansornplang
Assistant Marketing Communication Manager
Pan Pacific Bangkok
Tel. +66 (0) 2 632 9000
Fax. +66 (0) 2 632 9011
Email. [email protected]
Suppanat Suttiwong
PR Manager
Vivaldi PR
Tel. +66 (0) 2 319 1031 ext. 1152
Mobile. +66 (0) 1567 5435
[email protected]