• To enhance travellers’ airport experience during the pandemic, Collinson has launched a new solution that enables airport lounge visitors to order complimentary food and beverages (F&B) from their mobile device
•  The solution, named ‘Ready 2 Order’, is now available in six lounges located across four cities in India: Mumbai, Pune, Cochin and Dehradun, and is also live in select airport lounges in Mexico City, USA and the UK
•  ‘Ready 2 Order’ responds to evolving traveller needs in light of Covid-19, with a recent Priority Pass survey revealing that 80% of frequent flyers want more contactless services across the airport journey

With the aim of helping to get the world travelling safely again, and as a direct response to evolving traveller needs, Collinson is pleased to announce the launch of ‘Ready 2 Order’ at select lounges in India, a pilot solution that enables airport lounge visitors to order complimentary F&B directly via their smartphones.

The pilot solution can be enjoyed by guests who visit the Earth Lounge at the Domestic and International Terminals in Kochi; the Earth Lounge in the Domestic Terminal in Pune; the Bird Lounge at the Domestic Terminals in Pune and Dehradun; and the Loyalty Lounge at the International Terminal in Mumbai. The ‘Ready 2 Order’ pilot is also available in Mexico City, USA and the UK, and will be available to all lounge access programmes, including Priority Pass.

‘Ready 2 Order’ aims to safely maintain the pleasure of enjoying complimentary F&B services at airport lounges, at a time when COVID-19 has resulted in the need to limit or remove self-serve buffets. Lounge visitors simply scan a QR code, or tap an NFC-enabled device, on signage located at individual tables or seats within the lounges in order to view a lounge-specific menu. Once they have selected their preferred option, the order will in turn be delivered directly to the table or can be collected at an assigned pick-up point (depending on the individual lounge).

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

Priyanka Lakhani, Commercial Director, Middle East and Africa, and Director, South Asia at Collinson, said: “We’re dedicated to helping get the world travelling safely again through the introduction of innovative solutions, in partnership with our lounge partners. When travellers know they can access a socially-distanced, contactless space inside the airport, we hope that they will feel more confident about their journeys and returning to travel as routes open up. Indeed, frequent travellers are eager to get back to the skies, so it’s up to industry leaders to deliver new, innovative solutions that respond to the ‘new normal’ and champion the safe and effective travel recovery.”

A recent survey from Collinson Priority Pass, which received responses from 22,000 travellers globally, found that almost 7 in 10 travellers are willing to pay for access to an airport lounge where social distancing is maintained, and the majority of travellers (57%) plan to use their airport lounge access more than they did before the coronavirus outbreak. 80% of travellers would like to see contactless services across the journey the next time they travel.

Along with elevating the safe and premium airport journey for travellers, ‘Ready 2 Order’ offers additional benefits, such as reducing food waste and supporting social distancing by removing the necessity of a dedicated buffet area to increase seating areas.

Leveraging its more than 55 years’ experience in the medical assistance arena, Collinson has shifted its business priorities to help bring about the safe, long-term return of global travel through a number of key initiatives – including the management of over 120,000 COVID-19 tests. Last month, Collinson partnered with Singapore Airlines to launch their first ever COVID-19 pre-departure testing solution, and are working in partnership with London Heathrow Airport, London Luton Airport, London City Airport and Manchester Airports Group in the UK – which includes Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands Airports – as well as the O2 Arena, to provide COVID-19 testing for travellers.

As ‘Ready 2 Order’ is rolled out to more Priority Pass lounges in the coming months, they’ll be listed here and will display the ‘Ready 2 Order’ icon for easy identification.