• NaSmiles launches Ready 2 Order pilot during the unveiling of its refurbished premium lounge in Riyadh.
  • Ready 2 Order responds to evolving traveller needs in light of COVID – 82% of Saudi Arabian travellers highlighted the importance of contactless services across the airport journey.
  • The solution will soon be launched in a second refurbished lounge in Dammam - due for completion later in May 2021.

Riyadh, KSA – Collinson has announced that the naSmiles lounge, in King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh has gone live with its ‘Ready 2 Order’ solution, to facilitate the safe and contactless digital airport experience. Travellers who use the solution will now be able to safely enjoy complimentary Food and Beverage (F&B) services at the lounge where open buffets are currently suspended. As Collinson continues to roll out its ‘Ready 2 Order’ solution across more lounges on the Priority Pass global network, this solution will also be coming soon to the naSmiles premium lounge in Dammam King Fahd International Airport.

The announcement of this innovation coincides with the completion of a major lounge refurbishment in Riyadh and an ongoing refurbishment in Dammam (which is set to open its doors later in May 2021). The refurbishments will bring a modern and light aesthetic to the lounges, and more alternative seating options for guests as well as new contemporary furniture. The Riyadh lounge will now boast a space of 550 square metres, ensuring the most comfortable experience and ability for guests to remain socially distanced. The Riyadh lounge also features a brand-new children’s play area. 

The launch of the Ready 2 Order solution further enhances the guest experience and means that lounge visitors can scan a QR code or tap an NFC-enabled device on signage at each table or seat, to see a lounge-specific menu and make their selection. The order will be delivered directly to the table.

The trial in Saudi Arabia joins similar initiatives in Mexico City, India, the USA, and the UK, and is available on both Priority Pass and LoungeKey programmes.

Ready 2 Order launches in collaboration with Collinson’s strategic partner Servy, the airport e-commerce platform and largest marketplace for contactless order and payments at airport restaurants.

Priyanka Lakhani, Commercial Director - Middle East and Africa and Director - South Asia at Collinson, said: “The world wants to travel again, but passengers want to feel safe and secure while accessing a full range of services inside the airport. With the Ready 2 Order e-commerce solution, guests of the naSmiles Riyadh lounge can now order hot, fresh food and beverages from their phone and from the comfort of their chair. This is the kind of solution that will help give travellers the confidence they need to feel safe and comfortable travelling again and it is fitting that the implementation coincides with the recent lounge refurbishment, making it an even more seamless and comfortable experience for guests.”

Mr. Monther Alhumyanee, CEO of AlKhalejiah Catering, the operator of naSmiles, added: “Travellers in the Kingdom seek a premium travel experience, including optimum levels of comfort and convenience at our luxury airport lounges. With our refurbishments across leading lounges in our Saudi network, we have worked hard to meet our customers’ exacting design and experience standards. With the unveiling of our new look lounge in Riyadh, it is the perfect time for us also to introduce a solution like Ready 2 Order meaning our valued lounge guests can once again enjoy our full range of delicious food and beverage, all ordered from the comfort and safety of their chairs. We’re proud to work with Collinson and Servy to test this exciting solution in Saudi Arabia and we are already looking forward to introducing this innovation in our Dammam lounge, which is currently undergoing its own exciting refurbishment due for completion in the coming month”.  

Further substantiating the relevance and timeliness of this proposition for the Saudi Arabian traveller, recent global research conducted by Collinson found that 86% of Saudi Arabian travellers said that socially distanced spaces in which to sit and relax were important to their airport experience, whilst 82% of Saudi travellers highlighted the importance of contactless services to their airport experience in the current climate.

Along with elevating the safe and premium airport journey for travellers, Ready 2 Order offers additional benefits including reducing food waste and supporting social distancing, removing the necessity for dedicated buffet areas to increase seating space. A turn-key, end-to-end digital solution, Ready 2 Order enables airport lounges to add and manage their own menus, providing a great experience to travellers.

As Ready 2 Order rolled out to the naSmiles Dammam lounge, as well as other global Priority Pass lounges over the coming months, they’ll be listed here.

– Ends –

About Collinson

Collinson is a global leader in the provision of traveller experiences including airport lounge access and medical and security assistance and travel medical services. Collinson’s traveller experiences include the world’s leading airport lounge and experiences programme, Priority Pass, as well as travel insurance, identity assistance, flight delay, international health and travel risk management solutions.

Collinson has over 2,000 employees operating out of 20 locations globally, all working to deliver a broad range of traveller experiences that ensure the safety, welfare and comfort of 55 million people as they travel for business and leisure around the world. Its travel medical and security assistance business unit has more than 55 years’ experience in the delivery of international medical assistance and emergency care, including the handling of pandemics such as Ebola, Zika and the coronavirus. Last year alone, Collinson responded to over 95,000 emergency calls, managed over 40,000 medical cases and conducted over 3,000 aero-medical evacuations across the 170 countries it serves. We work with clients including American Express, Cathay Pacific, CBA, Mastercard, Radisson Hotel Group, UnionPay and Visa.

About Priority Pass

Priority Pass is the original and market-leading airport experiences programme operated by Collinson. It provides discerning frequent travellers access to over 1300 lounges and airport experiences in over 650 airports across 149 countries, including a growing number of airport dining and spa offerings worldwide that can be accessed in the same way as lounges. Using the Priority Pass app for iOS and Android, members can quickly and easily discover locations welcoming Priority Pass, instantly check their visit entitlement and use their Digital Membership Card to access airport lounges and experiences.

About the Research

Data collected from a total of 12,607 travellers in 2020, of which 11,159 were leisure travellers and 7,904 travel for business. The research was carried out in Australia, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Russia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, the UAE, the UK and the US.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ahmed Salah
asalah@golin.ae  

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© Press Release 2021

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