For some travelers, app-based food delivery companies like Grubhub and UberEats have already made hotel room service almost obsolete.
However, some pioneers in the hospitality industry have found ways to use delivery apps to their advantage and leverage new partnerships to give traditional room service concepts a modern, technology-driven twist.
The recently opened in what is known as the “first move of its kind” Resorts World Las Vegas announced in June that it has signed a contract with Grubhub to launch On the Fly in Resorts World powered by Grubhub.
On the Fly is billed as a new mobile ordering experience and allows guests at Resort World Las Vegas to choose from any of the The 40 catering facilities of the megaresort as well as select retail stores, either via the Grubhub app or by scanning the Grubhub QR codes located throughout the building. Orders may be placed for pickup or delivery to a guest room or the World Las Vegas 5.5 acre pool complex. Payments can be made by credit card or room fee.
For pool deliveries, orders can be picked up from a secure, QR code-activated restaurant locker that can be opened without contact.
According to Scott Sibella, President of Resorts World Las Vegas, the on-the-fly platform offers users what he calls “a whole new level of comfort”.
“Grubhub masters the third-party delivery service,” says Sibella. “Many guests already know the application and its functionality, [and] We have seen a significant early adoption rate of on the fly. “
However, unlike the typical third-party delivery process, On the Fly delivery logistics are handled by Resorts World employees rather than independent delivery companies.
For Grubhub, the partnership is the company’s first with a hotel and casino, but it likely won’t be the brand’s last.
Brian Madigan, Vice President of Corporate and Campus Partners at Grubhub, described working with Resorts World Las Vegas as a “natural addition to enhancing the guest experience.”
“We are constantly looking for opportunities and partnerships that improve the food ordering and delivery experience, and we see the hotel and resort space as a prime location for a future move to mobile ordering and delivery,” added Madigan.
An example of a 2ndKitchen QR code room service menu offered at a Sextant Stays property. Photo Credit: Courtesy Sextant Stays
In the meantime, Sextant Stays is also innovative on the delivery front in the area of hybrid apartment hotels. The company, which operates vacation rentals in New Orleans, Miami, and other markets, recently partnered with delivery company 2ndKitchen to offer “next generation” room service to its guests.
“2ndKitchen essentially provides us with room service without an on-site restaurant taking a huge footprint or having to worry about inventory, labor and all those other costs,” said Andreas King-Geovanis, founder and CEO of Sextant Stays. “It’s a way to add a convenience without the overhead.”
Through 2ndKitchen, Sextant Stays can offer its guests the opportunity to order from a QR code menu from the Sextant Stays brand, which King-Geovanis calls “White Label”, which offers a selection of dishes from three to four local restaurants, all of which are usually within five blocks.
This proximity helps ensure on-time delivery. Sextant Stays reports that 2ndKitchen deliveries to Sextant Stays hotels in Miami and New Orleans took an average of less than 30 minutes between January and May.
In addition, 2ndKitchen does not assume any delivery or service fees from the customer, a tip is the only additional item on a check. The company takes a percentage of each sale from participating restaurants, although King-Geovanis has confirmed that this cost stays below the high restaurant fees associated with most major delivery app brands.
“What Airbnb, Vrbo, and many other companies lack is the F&B component,” said King-Geovanis. “Our goal is to provide a hotel experience with the same amenities and the same level of professionalism, with the comfort and space of being in a home.”
