Global Village, the UAE and wider region’s leading multicultural family destination for culture, shopping, and entertainment, has been named the winner in three categories at the 2021 Middle East & North Africa Stevie® Awards. The annual business awards competition recognises innovation in all its forms and is open to organisations in 17 countries across the region. Global Village scooped a hat-trick of wins following the Global Village mobile app’s success instreamlining services, elevating guest satisfaction, and helping provide best-in-class experiences in line with the park’s digital transformation agenda and COVID-19 response.
The mobile app won twoGold Stevie Awards for Innovation in Business Utility Apps and Innovation in Entertainment Apps, a Silver win also coming for Innovation in Business Information Apps. The mobile app was introduced at the start of the ongoing Silver Jubilee Season and has been met with critical acclaim by industry professionals and park enthusiasts alike, introducing users to simplicity and convenience. The first three months since the app’s launch saw over 33,000 new users and 100% growth in online ticket sales, witha 163% increase in app downloads and127% app store improvement rating compared to the same period a year prior has also been recorded.
Jaki Ellenby, Executive Director Marketing and Events, Global Village said: “We are honoured to be the recipients of this prestigious award which is testament to the extraordinary efforts that were required to design and build the Global Village Appin the exceptional and challenging circumstances of lock-down. Under the guidance of our inspirational leadership, the Global Village IT andmarketing teams worked tirelessly alongside digital agencies MobiiWorld and Digital Of Things in the midst of the pandemic to be ready in time for the Season 25 opening. The introduction of the app is part of our ongoing digital roadmap and we have continued to improve functionality and pilot new features throughout the season.”
The app has the most accurate GPS-powered venue navigation system in today’s market, which was developed alongside MobiiWorld and has transformed the ease with whichguests can find their way around the destination. As a centralised platform for all Global Village-related updates, the latest information concerning show timings, customer offers, upcoming events, and much more are provided.Global Village has also ushered in cashless technology through the app, promoting digital payments under "new normal" conditions. Park guests can make payments for entry tickets, parking permits, tickets for entertainment, attractions and Carnaval Points, with transactions completed in less than 10 seconds using Apple Pay. Registered uses can manage VIP packs, and Wonder Passes through their profiles and can top up their points in just 3 clicks. With a host of valuable benefits accessible and available at all times, the platform has set a benchmark for others to emulate in the regional and international travel, tourism, and hospitality sector.
“We will also be working on major new enhancements during the summer so watch this space! Our digital transformation is just one leg of Global Village’s unwavering journey to exceptional guest experience which is at the centre of everything we do,” added Jaki Ellenby, Executive Director Marketing, Global Village.
The Stevie awards were originally created in 2002 in the US and have grown around the world to honour innovative businesses.The judges include many of the world’s most respected executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business educators. The awards program harnesses the insights and talents of more than 200 judges every year and all judge comments are available for viewing to ensure transparency.Past Stevie Award winners including Acer Inc., Apple, BASF, BT, Ford Motor Company, ING, Procter & Gamble, Roche Group, and Samsung, among many others.Boehringer Ingelheim and Dubai Health Authority were winners in the 2020 MENA awards.
For more information, please visit: www.globalvillage.ae or download the Global Village App.
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