Yesterday, Fontainebleau Miami Beach announced the launch of an iPhone and
Android app, as well as a mobile site for most smartphones. In addition, the hotel will run a Facebook sweepstakes for those who
download the free app. Prizes include a weekend getaway, dinner at
one of Fontainebleau's signature restaurants (Hakkasan, Scarpetta, or Gotham), VIP access to LIV, or a
$20 iTunes gift card.
The app should come as no surprise from a hotel that has equipped each of its 1,504 guestrooms with
iMacs. The Fontainebleau loves Apple as much as Apple must love the
Fontainebleau, or as Philip Goldfarb, president and COO of
Fontainebleau, put it, "it is an extension of the brand's
commitment to providing its guests with the latest advances in the
mobile marketplace... This app launch is just one more way that the
resort is allowing our guests to stay connected no matter where they
are." And with mobile internet usage increasing substantially
faster than desktop internet usage, "by the end of 2011, our
targeted consumer will be spending more via mobile than desktop,"
adds Goldfarb.
The apps for both the iPhone and
Android are identical. That's excellent news considering the iPhone
version works swimmingly. Guests can book a room, check in on hotel
promotions, view each of Lapis spa's specials and services, browse
recreation and local attractions, and gain a perspective on the
shopping and nightlife.
For foodies, the most exciting aspect
of the app comes with a list of Fontainebleau's restaurants complete
with the ability to make a reservation, view the menus, read an
overview, see the hours of operation, find the Zagat rating, and
drool over crisp, colorful photos of the food. The restaurants are
divide between signature, casual dining & snacks, and order room
service. Additional tabs include the bars - broken down into bars
and lounges - and nightlife, including LIV and Arkadia. The app
even features information for booking group and social business,
including catering menus.
What does the future have in store? "In
the very near future, we will be offering exclusive promotions just
for mobile users. We are also going to be incorporating Augmented
Reality into the Fontainebleau app," adds Goldfarb. The future is
now at Fontainebleau.
The iPhone app is available for
download in the Apple iTunes Store here. The Android app is here. For you old fogeys, the mobile website is here.
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