HILTON PROGRAM AIDS BLIND, LOW-VISION GUESTS

For guests who have vision disabilities, exploring the unfamiliar surroundings of a hotel could pose unique and specific challenges that have the potential to impact their stay. Hilton has announced an industry-first partnership with Be My Eyes to enable guests who are blind or have low vision can experience a more accessible and seamless stay.

Hilton is making available AI-powered assistance and dedicated Hilton Reservations and Customer Care support to guests who are blind or have low vision across the Canada and the US through the free Be My Eyes mobile app, which connects users with sighted volunteers and companies via live video and AI, and directly connects Hilton guests with a team of dedicated, specially trained English-speaking Hilton Reservations and Customer Care agents.

Through the partnership, users can use their smartphone to navigate to Be My Eyes’ “Service Directory,” select the “Hotels” category and choose the participating Hilton brand to be directly connected to Hilton’s dedicated teams.

Hilton teams will be available to help users navigate the hotel, including helping guests identify and adjust the in-room thermostat, operate in-room coffee machines, identify window coverings, or navigate to the hotel’s meeting spaces and amenities such as bars, restaurants, gyms or spas.

Assistance is available across a variety of Hilton’s portfolio of brands, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton, among others. The partnership provides both leisure and business travellers who are blind or have low vision with personalized assistance for every stay occasion.

The announcement marks an advancement in the collaboration between Hilton and Be My Eyes. Hilton first partnered with the organization in 2023 to train and improve “Be My AI,” an OpenAI GPT-4 language model that powers the Be My Eyes app, to enhance its ability to recognize objects and navigate the furniture and fixtures found in Hilton brand hotel rooms.

Earlier this year, the partnership was expanded to include the development and training of a specialized team of Hilton Reservations and Customer Care agents who can support Be My Eyes users that may need assistance during their stay.

Be My Eyes can be downloaded via the App Store on iOS or Android.

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