HILTON AND BE MY EYES LAUNCH INDUSTRY‑FIRST PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE THE HILTON STAY FOR GUESTS WHO ARE BLIND OR LOW VISION
The exclusive partnership brings AI‑powered virtual assistance and dedicated Hilton Reservations and Customer Care support to Be My Eyes users across the U.S. and Canada. |
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HILTON AND BE MY EYES LAUNCH INDUSTRY‑FIRST PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE THE HILTON STAY FOR GUESTS WHO ARE BLIND OR LOW VISION
The exclusive partnership brings AI‑powered virtual assistance and dedicated Hilton Reservations and Customer Care support to Be My Eyes users across the U.S. and Canada. |
Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - Exclusive experiences
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This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2024-10-16
 Hilton and Be My Eyes Launch Industry First Partnership Operating In Room Coffee Machine
Photo credit © Hilton Worldwide
Hilton, a global leader in hospitality, announced today an industry-first, exclusive partnership with Be My Eyes to ensure guests who are blind or have low vision can experience a more accessible, seamless and welcoming stay.
Together with Be My Eyes, Hilton is making available AI-powered assistance and dedicated Hilton Reservations and Customer Care support to guests who are blind or have low vision across the U.S. and Canada. Be My Eyes is a free mobile app that connects blind and low vision users with sighted volunteers and companies through live video and AI, and now, directly connects Hilton guests with a team of dedicated, specially trained English-speaking Hilton Reservations and Customer Care agents.
Through this partnership, Be My Eyes users in the U.S. and Canada can use their smartphone to navigate to Be My Eyes’ “Service Directory,” select the “Hotels” category and choose the participating Hilton brand to be directly connected to Hilton’s dedicated teams.
Hilton teams will be available to help users navigate the hotel, including helping guests identify and adjust the in-room thermostat, operate in-room coffee machines, identify window coverings, or navigate to the hotel’s meeting spaces and amenities such as bars, restaurants, gyms or spas.
Assistance is available across a variety of Hilton’s portfolio of brands, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton, among others. The partnership provides both leisure and business travelers who are blind or have low vision with personalized assistance for every stay occasion.
“As a leading hospitality company, Hilton is committed to creating an experience that is welcoming for every guest, at every hotel, every time,” said Mike Gathright, senior vice president, customer excellence and innovation, Hilton.
“We believe that every guest – regardless of ability or any other factor – deserves a reliable and friendly travel experience, and we are proud to partner with Be My Eyes to make that more of a reality for thousands of Be My Eyes users.”
Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Hilton and Be My Eyes. Hilton first partnered with the organization in 2023 to train and improve “Be My AI,” an OpenAI GPT-4 language model that powers the Be My Eyes app, to enhance its ability to recognize objects and navigate the furniture and fixtures found in Hilton brand hotel rooms. Earlier this year, the partnership was expanded to include the development and training of a specialized team of Hilton Reservations and Customer Care agents who can support Be My Eyes users that may need assistance during their stay.
“Our mission at Be My Eyes is to break down accessibility barriers in everyday life, and this partnership with Hilton is a significant step along that path, helping travel and hospitality to be much more inclusive,” said Mike Buckley, CEO, Be My Eyes.
“Hilton is once again leading by example, and we’re excited to provide the world’s best customer service platform to help Hilton serve blind and low vision consumers.”
In addition to leveraging Hilton’s dedicated Reservations and Customer Care team, guests can take advantage of Hilton’s industry-leading “straight-to-room” digital self-service tools that create a seamless experience from check-in to check-out. Where available, these tools include the ability to choose your room, digitally check in, use the Digital Key to open guest room doors with mobile phones and digitally check out. With this technology, guests who require additional assistance can adapt their travel experience based on their specific needs.
While Hilton’s partnership with Be My Eyes will support thousands of guests who are blind or have low vision, the hospitality leader is on a continuous journey to understand and accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities, so all guests can experience a reliable and friendly stay.
Hilton is proud to have been recognized as a Top Company for People with Disabilities by Fair360, a Leading Disability Employer by the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion in the U.S. by Disability:IN. These recognitions represent the company’s continued commitment to learning how to better serve guests with diverse needs, including members of the blind and low vision communities.
About Hilton
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 24 world-class brands comprising more than 8,000 properties and more than 1.2 million rooms, in 126 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for seven consecutive years. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 195 million Hilton Honors members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone.
 Photo credit © Hilton Worldwide
 Photo credit © Hilton Worldwide
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