VIP Worldwide will be creating a series of Virtual Reality experience films for The Cotton House, Barcelona part of Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International’s distinctive portfolio of high personality, one-of-a-kind independent hotels. The five-star hotel fills the space which previously played home to the headquarters of Spain’s Cotton Textile Foundation, an emblematic 19th-century building in a neoclassical style. The hotel has 83 elegant and comfortable rooms, of which seven are spacious suites. VR is an extremely powerful marketing and communication tool and is changing how people travel and make travel decisions. Virtual reality is a revolutionary new sales tool for the hospitality industry. The technology takes you on virtual journeys in a completely immersive way allowing guests to be temporarily transported to sample authentic moments, experiences and adventures. Putting guests at the centre of the story is changing storytelling and the way a guest experiences, interacts and engages within the hospitality and travel industry. “We are very excited to collaborate with Autograph Collection Hotels to explore the creation of VR content,” said David Beasley, Chief Executive Officer, VIP Worldwide. “We aim to combine filmmaking and storytelling with cutting-edge technology to bring to life the properties distinctive hospitality story.” Curious travellers seek engagement in many different ways and VR is also such an incredibly social and exciting experience offering unique immersive possibilities. Every hotel in the Autograph Collection is handpicked for its distinctiveness, and with that comes its own story. Vivienne Le Page, European Director of Sales and Marketing; Autograph Collection Hotels, comments: ” Each property has been selected for its originality, rich character and uncommon details. From iconic to chic and artsy to luxurious, the collection is a unique array of properties that is nothing less than individually original, nothing short of collectively exceptional, and to share these experiences through Virtual Reality with our individualist traveller is an exciting next step for the collection. To be able to work in partnership with the creative experience of VIP worldwide is truly a combined vision in the art of telling the story and sharing the experience.” VIP Worldwide also provide fully branded headsets and downloadable apps. VIP Worldwide predict marketing spend will shift further to VR as smart travellers’ expectations are forever evolving. VR greatly enhances the customer experience moving from the traditional “look before you book” to fully experiencing a property, room, suite, guest experience or destination before making a booking. VIP Worldwide are also producing Virtual Reality experiences for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Rosewood Hotels and Resorts and Ty Warner Hotels and Resorts. Source: Hospitality Net