Tink Labs touts Handy platform
Hong Kong-based Tink Labs Ltd, operator of an interactive mobile platform for hotels, is expanding into Thailand with the goal of servicing more than 140,000 rooms this year.
Terence Kwok, founder and chief executive, said the company entered the Thai market in late 2017. Tink Lab’s platform, called “Handy”, already serves more than 100 hotels and 20,000 rooms, mostly in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya.
Mr Kwok said the company plans to add over 120,000 rooms this year, mostly in major tourist destinations like Koh Samui and Krabi province.
The move is intended to capitalise on the thriving tourism industry, as Thailand was ranked among the world’s most-visited countries, attracting 35 million arrivals last year.
Handy was designed to facilitate the handling of international visitors, increase revenue and improve hotels’ marketing efforts.
“Handy can help operators reduce daily operational costs from 50 cents to US$2 [16 to 66 baht] per room per day, depending on the package. The platform also helps increase revenue by 3-4% per room per day,” he said.
Average investment cost for the platform is from 50 cents to $1 per room per day. Tink Labs is arranging hotel alliances on a two-year contract basis.
Currently the platform is available in 80 countries worldwide, covering 600,000 hotel rooms and has helped over 25 million global travellers stay connected.
In some mature markets, Handy has managed sizeable hotel penetration rates, including 40% in Hong Kong, Singapore (60%), Tokyo (65%) and London (30%). After entering the Japanese market last year, Handy now covers 200,000 rooms.
Mr Kwok said hotel operators are able to offer complimentary smartphones that are seen as another amenity on offer, elevating the guest experience. Each smartphone
provides local and international calls, along with unlimited internet data throughout the duration of the guests’ stay.
“With the rise of technology, access to travellers’ behavioural data, including interests, is readily available. Having new products will help hotels stay ahead of the competition and create satisfying experiences for guests,” he said.
In addition, call-to-action features like handy “Push Messaging” allows hotels to promote their facilities and services, including MICE (meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition) events, food, drink and other product offerings, said Mr Kwok.