Oakwood Launches Industry-Leading Mobile App, Streamlining Booking, Arrival, and Customer Service Experience

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakwood, wholly owned by Mapletree Investments, announced today the launch of its proprietary Oakwood Mobile App, a first-of-its-kind app in the industry that streamlines how guests book and manage their travel accommodations through expanded mobile functionality.

The easy-to-use Oakwood Mobile App is one of the most robust in its industry, connecting guests to more capabilities than any comparable app. Its features add convenience, simplicity and accessibility for guests, who can now manage almost every phase of the reservation and stay process from beginning to end directly from their mobile devices. As the corporate housing/extended stay industry grows to include leisure, short- and long-term travelers, guests have come to expect an experience that bridges the comfort of a home environment with the conveniences of a hotel. Now, with the Oakwood Mobile App, users can benefit from added booking capabilities, digital document review and signing, secure payment processing and on-the-go access to all reservation details within the app. The introduction of the all-new app is evidence of the company's commitment to its digital roadmap strategy—announced earlier this year—which focuses on harnessing technology for a better customer experience and value in an ever-changing industry.

"Oakwood's investment in the guest experience through mobile technology is part of our dedication to providing the best and most innovative technologies to meet the needs of the marketplace and our customers worldwide," said Chris Ahearn, chief executive officer, Oakwood. "As we listen to our guests and continue to learn what they need to enhance their travel experiences, we are able to respond with tools, like the Oakwood Mobile App, that give them more control over and accessibility to the details of their stays."

The Oakwood Mobile App also serves as a new channel of communication for guests, providing users with important alerts and crisis notifications, and enabling them to submit service requests or contact customer care.

Key elements of the new mobile app include:

• Convenient, customizable searches of furnished and serviced apartments and amenities with an in-app booking feature
• Secure, digital review and signing of agreements
• Access to booking paperwork and property security codes
• App-based check-in and location-specific tools, including driving directions and special offers
• Easy connection to customer care

"As the creator of the corporate housing market in the 1960s, Oakwood is committed to reinventing the industry to respond to cultural and technological changes," said Shree Khare, vice president, information technology, Oakwood. "As part of our digital roadmap strategy, we developed this state-of-the-art mobile app by understanding and streamlining the touchpoints between our guests and Oakwood—including finding and booking an apartment, to accessing reservation details or requesting service 24/7. Guests can now manage all these aspects of their accommodations on their own, from the convenience of their phones, at any time."

The first formal announcement of the mobile app launch came from Oakwood on Sunday, Aug. 12 at the annual GBTA convention, the world's largest gathering of travel professionals. It was unveiled after being selected by the organization to be part of GBTA's Media Day—a highly coveted opportunity to share breaking news that significantly impacts the industry.

The Oakwood Mobile App is available for iOS and Android platforms. Users can visit the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) to download the app, and Oakwood.com to learn more about its capabilities.

About Oakwood

Oakwood^®, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mapletree Investments, is the leading global accommodation solutions provider helping businesses and individual travelers be anywhere they need to be. With an extensive and flexible selection of move-in ready furnished and serviced apartments, Oakwood has enabled thousands of companies to expand their reach to more customers and markets. The award-winning company continues investing in its exclusive and growing portfolio of Oakwood-branded properties throughout the Americas, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) and APAC (Asia Pacific) offering travelers a broad range of accommodation options from apartments with luxurious style and full amenities to sensible accommodations with modern essentials. For more information, please visit www.Oakwood.com.

SOURCE Oakwood