Travel Industry News at TravelNewsAsia.com since 1997
Tue, 15 August 2023

Ascott Launches AI-Powered Chatbot Named Cubby

(15/08/23)  Ascott has launched an AI-powered chatbot designed to enhance the planning and booking stages of a guest's journey.

Named after Ascott’s mascot, Cubby, the chatbot is equipped to provide destination highlights, accommodation recommendations, must-visit attractions, suggestions for shopping and adventure activities, as well as the best ‘Instagram-worthy’ spots, to name but a few.

The ChatGPT-fuelled chatbot is built on Microsoft OpenAI and Azure Services, and leverages real-time data from Bing search, Azure Map (Nearby API), Azure Map (Weather API), and other Azure services, alongside data and insights accessed via Ascott’s global website.

Currently in its test-bedding stage where learnings are still key, this transformative initiative is part of Ascott’s mindful adoption of AI-driven guest-centric innovations to support its rapid growth trajectory.

Studio at Ascott Orchard Singapore. Click to enlarge.
Studio at Ascott Orchard Singapore

“An exciting quest of learning and discovery begins as Ascott takes its first step into the future of personalised travel exploration with the pilot launch of Cubby, where innovation meets warm and cuddly hospitality,” said Ms Tan Bee Leng, Ascott’s Managing Director for Brand & Marketing. “Cubby, with its AI prowess, taps into a vast treasure trove of data, enabling fast analysis of travel preferences, trends, and recommendations; from suggesting hidden gems to tailoring itineraries that match specific areas of interests. As we journey alongside our valued guests in this shared adventure of experimentation, every interaction with Cubby is set to unlock a realm of limitless possibilities in AI-driven travel planning. Ascott is dedicated to nurturing Cubby's growth, empowering it to deliver more personalised and engaging experiences with each interaction.”

For a start, Cubby will be supporting Ascott’s live chat agents, so that the agents can focus on responding to more complex inquiries which require deeper and more thorough engagement with guests.

For guests who enjoy having an AI travel buddy that is online 24-7, Cubby has the ability to generate personalised itineraries according to user input. The itineraries can be customised and amended according to the destination(s) selected, length of stay, travel preferences, and other criteria.

Travel tips as well as health and safety information alongside advice on visa requirements, travel budgets and packing checklists are some of the added knowledge Cubby is able to share.

Supporting the booking stage of the guest journey, recommendation of accommodation options and assistance with booking of preferred properties via deep link into the website booking engine are some of the many tasks Cubby has been taught to deliver on as well.

In anticipation of evolving guest expectations, Cubby will become multichannel in its later phase, seamlessly integrating with different applications for greater convenience.

Improved language capabilities will also be implemented, allowing Cubby to respond instantly across channels, using the guest’s preferred language and platform while handling an immense volume of guest inquiries simultaneously and consistently.

In Singapore, Ascott is piloting the use of self-check-in kiosks equipped with facial recognition technology that harnesses computer vision AI at several properties, with plans for global roll-out. Speedy and secure, the kiosks map out facial features and compare them to passport photographs. The process is streamlined to allow guests to check-in faster, and to free up time for employees manning the front desk to have more meaningful engagements with guests.

Ascott also plans to implement natural language processing AI for advanced sentiment analysis by deciphering nuanced language. The tool will be test-bedded in selected geographies before global deployment. This AI innovation will generate specific and constructive suggestions for each Ascott property to elevate guest satisfaction and provide strategic insights for the hospitality group in designing new properties.

“From computer vision to natural language processing, Ascott recognises the pivotal role of AI technology in shaping the future of travel experiences. The adoption of generative AI tools to create advertising campaigns has provided us a shorter time-to-market, and the development of a chatbot has deepened our level of engagement with guests,” added Ms Tan. “Our commitment to equipping our associates with knowledge and expertise in AI is not merely an investment; it's a pledge to futureproof Ascott and create a new paradigm of personalised engagement with our valued guests. Embracing AI humbles us in the face of technology's vast possibilities, empowering Ascott to learn, adapt, and evolve with the times, so that heartfelt hospitality and cutting-edge innovation can harmoniously intertwine.”

Latest videos Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport (ALA) in Kazakhstan - Exclusive Video Interview with Co-Founder, Auez Tulegenov, Novotel Living and Ibis Almaty Jetisu Hotels in Kazakhstan - Interview with GM, Arseniy Tagaev, and Almaty Marathon 2023 - Video Interview with CEO, Saltanat Kazybayeva.



Headlines: Xiamen Airlines Appoints APG as Offline GSA in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia  Hong Kong Airport Reports August's Cargo and Passenger Numbers  Marriott Signs Two Luxury Hotels in Trojena, Saudi Arabia  Honeywell Expands Partnership with Asia Pacific Aircraft Component Services  American Airlines Signs MOU with Embraer to Join Energia Advisory Group  Scoot Signs E190-E2 Pool Program Services Agreement with Embraer  Air Canada Orders 18 Boeing 787-10s; Cancels Order for Two 777 Freighters  Alton Aviation Publishes 2023 - 2033 Global MRO Demand Forecast  Airbus Appoints Christian Scherer as Commercial Aircraft CEO  Amadeus Working with Accenture and Microsoft on New AI-Powered Travel Assistant  IndiGo Launches Fights Between Delhi and Almaty, Kazakhstan  Widerøe Appoints APG as Online GSA in United Kingdom  CapitaLand Ascott Trust Completes Sale of Four Serviced Residences in France  Air Astana Receives Five-Star Rating from APEX  United Airlines Appoints Michael Leskinen as CFO and EVP  Rosewood to Rebrand Three Lodges in New Zealand  New Dual-Branded Hotel in Kuala Lumpur Appoints Senior Management Team  Bonza to Launch Sunshine Coast - Darwin, Gold Coast - Darwin and Melbourne - Alice Springs  IHG Opens First avid Hotel in New York, USA  Austria to Order Embraer C-390 Millennium Multi-Mission Aircraft  Maldivian Orders Two ATR 42-600 Turboprop Aircraft  IndiGo Adds San Francisco to Codeshare Partnership with Turkish Airlines  Virgin Australia Upgrades Retailing Strategy with Sabre Air Price and Ancillary Solutions  TUI Expands Use of SITA OptiClimb to All Five Airlines in Group  Marshall J Orton Joins Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford as GM of F&B  China Airlines Launches Flights Between Taipei and Kumamoto, Japan  IATA FEGA Identifies Potential for LOT Polish Airlines to Reduce Fuel Consumption  British Airways Joins Fight Against Dementia by Partnering Alzheimer's Society  Hong Kong Int. Aviation Academy Launches First Cadet Pilot Programme  IndiGo Becomes Official Airline of Blue Tigers Indian Football Team  Marriott Opens World's Largest Aloft Hotel  Resort in Maldives Partners Karis Scarlette for Baa Atoll Ballet Retreat  Shady Abdelaziz Joins Four Seasons Hotel Tunis as DOSM  Intra-African Passenger Traffic to More Than Quadruple in Next 20 Years  Indian Air Force Takes Delivery of First C295 Aircraft from Airbus  Tailwind Air Appoints APG as Online GSA in USA  S Hotels Renovates and Upgrades IT Infrastructure at Key Properties in UK  AirAsia to Move Flights to New Airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia  Air Peace Orders Five Embraer E175 Aircraft  China Airlines Rewards FFP Members with Monthly Promotions  IHG Opens New-Build Holiday Inn & Suites in Geelong, Australia  Aruba Working with SITA to Upgrade Immigration Experience at AUA  Langham Opens Cordis Hotel in Xuzhou, China  SMBC Aviation Capital Expands 737 MAX Order Pipeline with Deal for 25 Boeing 737-8s  PHI Signs Agreement for 28 Airbus Helicopters  Anantara Chiang Mai Launches Ping River Cruises on Restored Rice Barge  Thaicom Orders a Flexible Telecommunications Satellite from Airbus  Korean Air Begins Transition to Electronic Air Waybills for Cargo  Tim Toerber Joins Assaia as Vice President of Business Development for the Americas  Elbit Systems Launches Capsule that Combines Skylark III with SkyStriker  Singapore Airlines to Resume Flights to Brussels in 2024  Vietnam Airlines Signs MOU for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8s  Thai Airways Adjusts BKK-HKT Schedule; Increases Flights to China  Elbit Systems to Upgrade IDF's Mini Skylarks  DidaTravel Appoints Ala Andriuta as Head of Destination Marketing  Cathay Pacific to Resume Flights to Chennai, India in 2024  Qatar Airways Partners Chef Ton for Delicious Thai Flavours in Business Class  Air Astana Opens Flight Training Centre at NQZ, Kazakhstan  Vietnam Airlines to Launch Flights Between Saigon and Perth, Australia  SalamAir to Launch Year-Round Flights Between Muscat and Beirut, Lebanon  Air Astana Launches Flights Between Almaty and Tel Aviv, Israel  Hawaiian Airlines Opens Ticket Sales on First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Flights  Airlines Report Highest RPK and PLF on Record  IHG Signs Six Hotel Indigo Properties in Europe  Turkish Airlines Increases A350 Order Book with Deal for Ten -900s  IATA Reports Global Air Cargo Data for July 2023  Norse Opens Ticket Sales on Paris - Los Angeles Flights  Cartier Opens Boutique at Sydney Airport in Australia  Mazen Abilmona Appointed GM of Pullman Singapore Hill Street Hotel  Air France-KLM to Establish A350 Component Maintenance Services JV with Airbus  Alan Joyce Brings Forward Retirement; Vanessa Hudson Appointed Qantas Group CEO and MD  SAS Appoints Ginger Hughes as CTO; Paul Verhagen as CCO  Eric Pellen Joins Fairmont Amman as Executive Chef  Bombardier Partners Collins Aerospace for Avionics Upgrade on In-Service Global Jets  IndiGo Revamps Inflight Catering Service  FlyArystan to Launch Almaty - Delhi and Astana - Dushanbe Flights  Marriott Opens First Autograph Collection Hotel in Thailand  Construction Begins on Peppers Gladstone Hotel in Central Queensland, Australia  Natalie Dau to Conduct 4-Day Next-Level Performance Retreat at Chiva-Som, Hua Hin  KAI to Begin Serial Production of Light Armed Helicopters from Airbus  AirAsia Thailand Launches CNX - Lampang and NAN - Phrae Transfer Services  Mantra Melbourne Airport Hotel to Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Refurbishment  Qantas Removes Expiry Date on COVID Credits  Indonesia Signs MOU with Boeing for 24 F-15EX Fighter Jets  Airbus Opens Automated A321XLR Equipping Hangar in Hamburg, Germany  Novotel Living and Ibis Almaty Jetisu Hotels in Kazakhstan - Interview with GM, Arseniy Tagaev  Aeroflot to Increase Flights from Russia to Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand  Matthew Senyard Appointed Lodge Manager of Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti in Tanzania  Marriott Expands Luxury Collection to Japanese City of Nara  Embraer and CAE to Expand Pilot Training Program in Singapore  Marriott Opens First Moxy Hotel in Australia  Hong Kong Airport Reports July Passenger and Cargo Traffic  Few Tickets Still Available for Singapore F1 Grand Prix 2023  Qantas Orders 12 Airbus and 12 Boeing Aircraft  Finnair to Launch Flights Between Rovaniemi and Tromsø  Association of Asia Pacific Airlines Reports July's Passenger and Cargo Traffic  Bonza to Launch Flights Between Gold Coast and Launceston, Tasmania  Ramsey Saarany Appointed GM of Anantara Mina al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort  Emirates Reports One of its Busiest Summers Ever  EVA Air Extends Distribution Agreement with Amadeus  Almaty Marathon 2023 - 4K Video Interview with CEO, Saltanat Kazybayeva  Accor Hotels in Australia to Feature Peloton Bikes  Sabre Expands Presence in Fiji and South Pacific Islands with Airline Rep Services  Air New Zealand Orders Two ATR 72-600 Turboprop Aircraft  IndiGo to Operate All International Flights from BLR's Terminal 2  Electric Airport Taxis at Almaty Airport in Kazakhstan - Video Interview with Co-Founder  Elias Pertoft Appointed Pre-Opening GM of Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island  IHG Opens Third Hotel Indigo in Australia  Embraer E195-E2 Receives Type Certification from CAAC  Jörg Arnold Appointed Cluster Director of Andermatt Hotels and GM of The Chedi Andermatt  Marriott Signs Edition Hotel in Dali, China  Ethiopian Airlines to Launch Thrice Weekly Flights to London Gatwick, England  Boeing Appoints Alvin Liu as President - China  Charles Fisher Moves to Cairo as GM of Four Seasons Hotel  Jirarat Ninpadub Appointed GM of Le Meridien Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort  IndiGo to Launch Flights Between Delhi and Almaty, Kazakhstan  Accor Signs Second Sebel Hotel in Wellington, New Zealand  IHG Launches Garner a New Midscale Conversion Brand  Finnair Plus to Adopt Avios as Currency and Become a Spend-Based Platform  Two Luxurious Manor Homes Open at Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland  Thai AirAsia Reports Q2 and H1 2023 Results  Klook Survey Highlights Latest Travel Trends of Millennials and Gen Zs in Asia Pacific  Vietnam Airlines Signs MOC with Singapore Tourism Board  Aviation Safety and Training Singapore to Upgrade Flight Simulators with Lido FMS  Pictures from Miss International Queen 2023 Transgender Beauty Pageant in Pattaya, Thailand  Exclusive Video Interviews with 17 Miss International Queen 2023 Contestants  Living With One Eye - Six Years On by Steven Howard  HD Videos and Interviews  Podcasts from HD Video Interviews  RSS Feed - Travel Industry News  Ticker - Travel Industry News  Travel Industry News Archives  Travel Trade Shows  High-Res Picture Galleries  Travel News Asia - Latest Travel Industry News 

Subscribe to our Travel Industry News RSS Feed Travel Industry News RSS Feed from TravelNewsAsia.com. To do that in Outlook, right-click the RSS Feeds folder, select Add a New RSS Feed, enter the URL of our RSS Feed which is: https://www.travelnewsasia.com/travelnews.xml and click Add. The feed can also be used to add the headlines to your website or channel via a customisable applet. Have questions? Please read our Travel News FAQ. Thank you.

     
Advertising
Advertising
Copyright © 1997-2023 TravelNewsAsia.com