Collinson unveils contactless airport lounge F&B for a post-COVID world

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt travel across the globe, it hasn't stopped the industry from looking to meet the needs of the future. The lessons of 2020 will not be soon forgotten, and tomorrow's traveller will be far more cognizant of hygiene - especially in heavily trafficked places like airports.

With that in mind, Collinson has unveiled "Ready 2 Order", ensuring a "safe, premium, contactless" solution for airport lounge food and beverage, which has been restricted or removed entirely from many lounges out of safety concerns. In collaboration with partner Grab, which handles airport e-commerce and restaurant experiences, Ready 2 Order allows QR code and NFC-enabled devices to seamlessly select, order and receive meals and refreshments without any additional contact.

By introducing Ready 2 Order, Collinson is rising to meet the needs of their customer: A recent survey of Collinson's Priority Pass revealed that 80% of travellers would like to see contactless service throughout their journey, while 70% are willing to pay for lounge access where social distancing is maintained. Additionally, 71% of frequent flyers state that they are ready to return to travel within the next six months.

"We’re dedicated to getting the world safely travelling again," said Andy Besant, director of travel experiences at Collinson.

"When travellers know they can access a safe, premium, contactless experience inside the airport lounge, they will feel more confident about the journey and be more likely to return to travel as routes open up. Indeed, frequent travellers are eager to get back to doing the thing they love, so it’s up to industry leaders to deliver new, innovative solutions that re-imagine the new normal and champion the safe and effective travel recovery."

The Ready 2 Order solution has already launched in two Grand Lounge Elite airport lounges in Mexico City, and will launch across October in India, the United States, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Japan and the United Kingdom.

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