Collinson ameliorates airport lounge experience with no-contact food & beverage ordering solution

With the goal of helping to get the world travelling safely again, and as a direct response to evolving traveller’s demands, Collinson has unveiled, ‘Ready 2 Order’ at select lounges in India, a pilot solution that allows airport lounge visitors to order complimentary food and beverage directly via smartphones.

The pilot solution can be enjoyed by guests visiting the Earth Lounge at the Domestic and International Terminals in Cochin; the Earth Lounge in the Domestic Terminal in Pune; the Bird Lounge at the Domestic Terminals in Pune and Dehradun; and the Loyalty Lounge at the International Terminal in Mumbai. The ‘Ready 2 Order’ pilot can also be availed in Mexico City, USA and the UK, and will be available to all lounge access programmes, including Priority Pass.

It targets to safely maintain the pleasure of enjoying complimentary food and beverage services at airport lounges, at a period when COVID-19 has led to limit or remove self-serve buffets. Lounge visitors simply scan a QR code, or tap an NFC-enabled device, on signage present at individual tables or seats within the lounges in order to view a lounge-specific menu. Once they have chosen their preferred option, the order will in turn be served directly to the table, or can be collected from an assigned pick-up point (on the basis of individual lounge).

Launched in partnership with the company’s strategic partner Grab, the airport e-commerce platform and mega marketplace for contactless order and pay at airport restaurants.

Priyanka Lakhani, commercial director, Middle East and Africa, and director, South Asia at Collinson stated- “We’re devoted to aid the world travelling safely again through the introduction of creative solutions, in collaboration with our lounge partners. Knowing that they can access a socially-distanced, contactless space inside the airport, travelers will hopefully feel more confident about their journeys and returning to travel as routes open up. Indeed, frequent travellers are xcited to get back to the skies, so it’s up to industry leaders to deliver new, avant-garde solutions that respond to the ‘new normal’ and lead the safe and effective travel recovery.”

A recent survey from Collinson Priority Pass, which received responses from 22,000 travellers globally, found that about 7 in 10 travellers are willing to pay for access to an airport lounge where social distancing is maintained, and the majority of travellers (57%) plan to utilize their airport lounge access more than they did before the coronavirus outbreak. 80% of travellers would like to see no-contact services across the journey the next time they travel.

In addition to elevate the safe and luxurious airport journey for travellers, it provides additional benefits, such as lowering food waste and supporting social distancing by curbing the necessity of a dedicated buffet area to increase seating areas.

Leveraging its over 55 years’ experience in the medical assistance field, the company has shifted its business priorities to aid in bringing about the safe, long-haul return of global travel through numerous key initiatives – including the management of 120,000+ COVID-19 tests. Last month, the company collaborated with Singapore Airlines to unveil their first ever COVID-19 pre-departure testing solution, and are working in partnership with London Heathrow Airport, London Luton Airport, London City Airport and Manchester Airports Group in the UK – which encompasses Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands Airports – as well as the O2 Arena, to provide COVID-19 testing for travellers.