ibis breaks new ground

Hospitality, flexibility and interpersonal contacts

ibis has been a pioneer and trendsetter in the economy hotel segment since 1974. Now the company is once again setting new standards by offering travelers, as well as locals from the neighborhood, a completely new experience. ibis places hospitality, flexibility and interpersonal contact at the heart of its strategy. This takes into account industry changes and new customer needs, as expressed in a recent study. This was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of ibis in six countries (France, the UK, Brazil, Singapore, Germany and Australia). In each country, a representative sample of the population was surveyed. 80 percent of respondents wanted contemporary hotels to be places for social interaction where everyone - including people who are not staying overnight - feels welcome. This means a change for the brand. ibis wants to establish hotels as living spaces for everyone. They should not only be flexible, inviting and modern, but also meet a wide range of customer expectations around the clock. Travelers and residents should find flexible rooms at ibis that offer a whole range of diverse possibilities.


The innovation starts at check-in:
There will be no reception desk, which has always been a distinguishing feature of hotels. Instead, the ibis Smile team will greet guests as they arrive at the hotel. Check-in will then take place over a drink at the bar or in the cozy lobby, using a tablet and a specially developed mobile solution (PMS fols mobile). This allows employees to move around more freely and interact better with guests.


Flexible design:
For a particularly warm, personal welcome, ibis is now switching from a uniform, standardized to a flexible and individual approach based on three new design concepts. Selected designers in Europe, Latin America and Asia developed their concepts with the aim of creating a connection with the surroundings, giving the bar a high priority and making the hotels attractive for travelers and residents alike. Travelers will have the choice between rooms for 1 to 6 people. Or they can opt for the new Smart Room: with its special size and functional furniture, it will offer all guests comfort, convenience and safety and set standards in terms of accessibility.


Attractive gastro:
To ensure that all customers - residents and travelers alike - feel at home at ibis, the brand has developed a new range of gastronomic offerings. The bar at the heart of the hotels is also a restaurant: it offers individually composed menus in a distinctive ambience. Various design elements help to create a unique atmosphere. ibis hoteliers can choose between different new concepts, depending on the specific expectations of their clientele. They can also adapt it to their location and create menus that focus on local delicacies and regional products. A pilot hotel for this new service is the ibis Zurich Messe Airport. Charlie's Corner" has been set up in the lobby: a bar dedicated entirely to beer with a menu that changes throughout the day. Customers can enjoy coffee there in the morning and a huge selection of Swiss beers in the evening. There are also regional delicacies, such as rösti. With its pop-rock ambience, Charlie's Corner is a meeting place for friends and neighbors who like to enjoy a good beer while listening to live music.


Music and encounters:
ibis wants to make music an important part of the customer experience and thus encourage guests and residents to come together. This decision is based on another result of the Ipsos study conducted on behalf of ibis: 79 percent of respondents said that listening to music was an important part of their lives. In 2019, more than 100 young, up-and-coming talents from the neighborhood will perform live in ibis hotels in six countries together with well-known, renowned musicians. This is because 40 percent of respondents in the study stated that they would like to attend live concerts by young artists in hotels. ibis is thus positioning itself as a promoter of new talent and plans to give the best of them their own stage at the Budapest Sziget Festival in August.

In Switzerland, ibis has 25 hotels in Baar, Baden-Neuenhof, Basel, Bern, Bulle, Chur, Delémont, Fribourg, Geneva (five), Kriens, Lausanne (two), Locarno, Lugano, Neuchâtel, Rothrist, Sion, Winterthur and Zurich (three).

ibis.accorhotels.com
Photo: "Charlie's Corner" (c) Stefan Kuhn