Checkmate’s communications tool makes it simple for hotels to interact with guests across multiple channels including SMS — Photo by Checkmate

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Feb. 29, 2015) – Checkmate's customer communications tool was named Best In Class Technology Winner for Innovation at the annual HSMAI Europe awards ceremony Feb. 10 in London. The evening honored outstanding marketers across Europe and a Best In Class winner was named in each of the five categories: Digital, Social Media, Public Relations, Revenue Management, and Technology Innovation.

"Checkmate is honored to receive recognition from Europe's leading hotel executives," said Checkmate co-founder and CEO Drew Patterson. "We built our product in response to the challenge we heard echoed from hotels around the world: help us communicate with guests in today's communication channels - SMS, email, messaging - and provide employees the context to actually deliver hospitality. This award showcases our hotel partners' ability to engage guests and provide world-class service using Checkmate's tools. We'd also like to congratulate Checkmate partner Stephen Williams, Director Group Sales & Marketing for Windward Management who was named one of Europe's Top 20 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing & Technology."

Checkmate's communications tool makes it simple for hotels to interact with guests across multiple channels--SMS, email, and messaging--through a single inbox. Because staff can work as a team and see the guest's interaction history, these communication tools translate into better service and, most importantly, stronger TripAdvisor and online reviews.

HSMAI judges had the following to say about Checkmate, "Yes, it works! As it helps the hotel to create a more personalized and very effective service that guests will remember."

To solidify the win, Checkmate highlighted the following results achieved through partnerships worldwide:

CHECKMATE RESULTS

  • 71.2 percent of guests opt in to SMS communication during mobile check in.
  • Over 40,000 guests texted with their hotel at some point during the customer journey.
  • More than 1.2 million messages have been exchanged between hotels and their guests.
  • 16.7 percent of guests use real-time feedback to alert staff to their experience.
  • 84,457 guests have completed Checkmate's in-stay feedback survey, providing unprecedented real-time transparency into guest satisfaction.

About Checkmate
Checkmate's communications tools make engaging with customers as natural as connecting with friends and family. Businesses can reach their customer via any communication channel - SMS, email, messaging - and work as a team through one shared inbox to deliver world-class service. Checkmate was founded in Jan. 2013 and was acquired by Room 77 which has raised $43 million dollars from leading travel and technology investors. For more information about Checkmate and to sign up for a free trial, visit www.checkmate.io.

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners, and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals & their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue. HSMAI is an individual membership organization comprising more than 7,000 members worldwide.

Kellie Pelletier
Public Relations