Asian start-up offers to make hotels ‘appy’ for free

Far East start-up Appy Hotel is offering hoteliers free apps to help them get into mobile.

Far East start-up Appy Hotel is offering hoteliers free apps to help them get into mobile.


The firm, based in Hong Kong and Bangkok, says its service has been proved following a six-month beta trial.


It claims to have already signed up 500 hotels worldwide from properties in large maulti-national chains to small boutique operators.


Appy Hotel offers customers the ability to create iPhone and iPad apps to support their existing website and offline marketing.


Operated as a software-as-a-service provider, Appy Hotel offers monthly payments plans from free to $199 according to the level of customisation.


The company was established by chief executive and luxury technology expert JP Dumas and an international team of developers from the US, Australia, Israel and Europe.


Dumas said: “Appy Hotel provides hotels with immediate return on investment. Not only can they launch their app in minutes instead of months, but they can also avoid the risk and cost normally associated with adopting new marketing strategies and technology.”


Dumas added that the rise of smartphone adoption and use will increasingly make it the “primary marketing platform”.


“In fact last year US consumers purchased over $24 billion of goods and services via mobiles and tablets , an 81% increase over 2011.


“I’m always impressed by hoteliers’ eagerness to find new ways to generate excitement about their properties.


“Appy Hotel is the natural response to these two trends, and meets the clear demand hotels have to supplement existing marketing communications with mobile friendly marketing.”