Vista Rooms Archives

October 25, 2017

Vista Rooms, South Asia’s largest chain of affordable stays, has partnered with handy to provide its network of hotels with free smartphones, allowing guests to enjoy unlimited international calls and data and access to local guides whereas hoteliers have an opportunity to upsell their services. The partnership will give Vista’s partner hotels a competitive advantage and provide their customers with greater convenience and comfort during their travels.

This latest travel solution is in keeping with Vista Rooms’ mission to improve their customers’ travel experience and help their partners through the use of technology and innovation. Network hotels will be able to create a personalised experience, up-sell services and facilities within the hotel to increase their revenues as well as push instant reviews on Trip Advisor and other online platforms.

Connected travellers are on the rise, with a recent global research indicating that 46% of global travellers said free in-room Wi-Fi is a must-have amenity, which means they will look elsewhere if an accommodation does not provide connectivity.

“We are excited about partnering with handy. This partnership is born from a growing trend in the market due to the rise of social media and messaging apps. People are now more connected than ever and they want to keep their friends and family updated while on vacation. By giving them free data and unlimited international calls we are simply reducing one item from their checklist, keeping them connected to their loved ones and making their vacation that much more enjoyable,” said Amit Damani, Co-Founder of Vista Rooms.

“Changes like these can make a huge positive impact on a traveller’s experience thereby creating loyalty for our partner hotels and providing them with an edge in the market. This is just one of many steps we’re taking to empower our hotel partners in the country,” he added.

“Connectivity is more important than ever for an enriched travel experience in today’s digital age and handy connects travelers so they can enjoy Sri Lanka as a premier travel destination, revealing local gems on the go and sharing their experiences. handy brings many benefits to hoteliers that may not have been able to assist their travelers to the best of their ability, handy is a solution that brings ease to excellent customer service travelling.” said Terence Kwok, Founder and CEO of Tink Labs.

handy devices were first launched in September 2012 by Tink Labs to help deliver a hassle-free travel experience and meet a growing demand for internet connection services. The complimentary service enables visitors to travel like a local finding connectivity and information they need at no cost.

Since entering the country in April 2016, Vista Rooms has been successful in quickly capturing market share and building the largest network of branded stays in Sri Lanka with over 350 properties across 30 cities. Their recent move to offer end-to-end support as a complete turnkey solutions provider for over 50 villa and boutique properties has further strengthened their position.

September 29, 2017

Vista Rooms, South Asia’s largest chain of affordable stays, is on track to onboard 1000 properties with over 10,000 rooms by the end of 2018. With the country experiencing a growth of 14% vis-a-vis last year in tourist arrivals and India accounting for 17.4% of these 2 million tourists, the online startup believes it’ll play a huge role in their local growth plans. These plans are further bolstered by the staggering 73% surge in online travel booking revenue over the past 5 years in Sri Lanka.

Working closely with property owners, Vista Rooms goes beyond increasing monthly revenues for their partners, by taking care of the entire guest lifecycle and improving day-to-day operations. Regular audits of each property guarantees a standardised experience for all guests – their average review score of over 7/10 on Booking.com is a testament of this focus on excellent guest experience. With access to the Vista Rooms’ preferred vendors, their partners source their supplies at lower rates and thereby, reduce their maintenance costs considerably.

“We have a 360 degree approach to managing properties, which has led to a growth of over 20% in revenues for our partners. It’s not just about listing these properties, but actually partnering with owners to understand their businesses and then, utilize our expertise to help them grow,” said Nadeem Kassim, AVP, Vista Rooms, Sri Lanka.

“The informal tourism sector is experiencing a surge in popularity with more and more travellers seeking authentic travel experiences. Till date, a lack of transparency in this segment has pushed people to book hotels. By providing a standardised experience and a transparent reviewing mechanism, guests will have more confidence to book these alternate stays. Apart from this, the price optimisation and reputation management tools that Vista Rooms offers to its partners, I see a clear path for growth of the sector, and over time, becoming a traveller’s preferred choice,” said Amit Damani, Co-Founder, Vista Room.

Vista Rooms partners with handy to empower hotels with free smartphones, including unlimited data and calling for guests

Vista Rooms continues expanding in Sri Lanka, on path to 1000 properties by 2018