NORTH AMERICA. Travel retailer and restaurateur Paradies Lagardère has extended its partnership with Grab, with a plan to incorporate the airport ecommerce platform’s technology at more than 100 locations across its Dining Division portfolio.
The expanded programme will be implemented in phases across several months and will include full-service and quick-service restaurants, coffee locations and some grab-and-go programmes.
The move will enable travellers to order food in advance using their own mobile devices but will also incorporate new technologies to enhance guest service and convenience, said the retailer. Virtual kiosks using QR codes will be incorporated into both quick-service and full-service restaurants with to-go stations and allow guests to order and pay for their meals from their own device.
For full-service restaurants, Grab’s Order at Table technology gives guests the opportunity to scan a QR code or tap an NFC tag at their seat to view menus and open or add items to a tab. Guests can then pay using their mobile devices through their preferred form of payment, including mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. For guests who order traditionally through a server, they will still be given the option to pay their tab from their own device.
Paradies Lagardère has partnered with Grab for the past five years. It said that this expanded partnership “further demonstrates its commitment to safe, sustainable and memorable airport dining experiences”.
Jens Baake, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Paradies Lagardère’s Dining Division, said: “We’re very excited to expand our relationship with Grab by providing enhanced safety measures through contactless engagement options as well as further create convenient innovations for our guests. These elements are meant to complement our already award-winning customer service and help continually elevate the overall positive experience in our restaurants, especially considering the current challenges we continue to face in the travel industry today.”
Grab Chief Experience Officer Jeff Livney added: “Paradies Lagardère was an early adopter and launch partner of Grab’s mobile marketplace solution and we are excited to expand this partnership and bring new self-service capabilities to restaurants across their portfolio. Our vision is aligned in leveraging technology to enhance – but importantly not replace – hospitality and provide guests the opportunity to self-service. By ordering and paying directly from their mobile device, guests can avoid touching menus and bills and sharing their credit cards to keep safety and hygiene in mind.”
