Avvio enhances Allora booking interface

Aim to increase engagement with accommodation providers

Avvio has enhanced its artificial intelligence (AI) booking engine Allora to increase guest engagement and revenues for hotels and accommodation providers.

Based on data gathered from Allora, as well as from an analysis of industry trends and best practice, changes to the front-end design and functionality of the booking engine have been made to provide a better guest user experience (UX) to increase direct bookings.

Avvio’s design and technical teams have developed the new booking interface design to benefit the technology provider’s customers with improved guest engagement, conversion rates and more.

Mobile optimisation has been a prominent factor in making the UX changes to the platform, as Avvio’s research revealed there has been a 42.5 % increase in mobile bookings for its customers across Europe between 2017 and 2018.

The latest updates make the booking experience responsive and optimised to ensure a seamless customer journey regardless of the device guests are using to book.

Other front-end changes made with guest UX in mind include a visual emphasis on security, best rate guarantees, online review scores and improved booking process navigation.

Ice House Hotel and Spa – a member of Ireland’s Blue Book, a collection of Irish hotels and country houses, and one of Avvio’s customers – has been receiving positive feedback from guests on their booking experiences.

General manager Niall Kerins said: “The functionality is great, it’s user-friendly and intuitive and looks brilliant on mobile!”

Hannah Corbett, group digital strategist at Avvio’s Northern Ireland customer Hastings Hotels, added: “The updated design of the booking engine is fantastic.

“The interface is easy to use and it’s incredibly responsive on mobile, enabling a seamless user experience for our website visitors.

“The visual indication of security on the booking page provides our guests with reassurance that their details are secure when booking direct.”

The upgraded booking engine now features a ‘length of stay’ discounting function, providing hotels with a platform to incentivise guests to stay longer by offering a discount on the total cost.

Avvio’s hotel and accommodation customers will benefit from reporting capabilities so reports can be tailored to compare data and monitor results more easily.

Avvio co-founder and chief executive officer Frank Reeves said: “We’re pleased to have introduced the latest line up of new features and updates to our award-winning platform.

“Within this software release, our hotel customers have discovered exciting enhancements to the front-end of their booking engine, as well as more exciting new features and other reporting enhancements.

“We have brought our technology ahead of evolving industry best practice and guest expectations and, so far, we’re pleased to have received such positive feedback from our customers.”