"2023 Spring Festival Effect" Seen in Data from Kotozna In-room Displays Signs of Inbound Recovery from Taiwan and Hong Kong
Kotozna (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO Genri Goto, https://kotozna.com/en) investigated the use of foreign languages at Japanese accommodation facilities from the usage data of Kotozna In-room, a multilingual communication tool. The results showed that Chinese (Traditional) ranked first in the number of foreign language requests by language in Japanese accommodations in January 2023. In China, the week before and after the Chinese New Year on January 22 was a major holiday weekend, and the inbound effect after the end of the zero-corona policy was attracting attention. However, the large increase was seen in Traditional Chinese speaking visitors, suggesting that many visitors may have come from areas such as Taiwan and Hong Kong rather than mainland China.
●Chinese (traditional) ranked first in the number of foreign language requests by language at Japanese accommodation facilities in January
Kotozna In-room, a multilingual digital concierge for accommodation facilities, is a service that allows guests to check facility information and local sightseeing information in their own language and chat with staff in their native language from anywhere in the facility. The service was launched in October 2020 and is available in 109 languages.
We have tabulated the use of foreign languages by Kotozna In-room users at accommodation facilities in Japan in January 2023, by language and time period. Results showed that in terms of the number of foreign language menu requests, which indicates the number of pages viewed on Kotozna In-room, Chinese (traditional) came in first place, overtaking English.
Furthermore, aggregating data by time period also shows a large increase in Chinese (traditional) being used over the week of Lunar New Year.
However, the fact that the traditional Chinese language is showing a large increase suggests that there may have been many visitors from areas such as Taiwan and Hong Kong rather than mainland China. This is believed to be due to the strengthening of border measures taken against mainland China, such as requiring the submission of a negative test certificate taken within 72 hours before departure.
Although the full-scale recovery of inbound travel after the end of China’s zero-corona policy has been limited, it is expected that post-COVID measures will be taken in the future, such as the lowering of COVID category 5 and the end of the requirement to wear masks on public transportation. Under these circumstances, there is an even greater need for both multilingual and non-contact support in accommodation facilities.
Kotozna In-room will continue to provide safe and secure communication and operations for accommodation facilities.
●Customer Voices
Please check the official product page for the voices of the facilities using Kotozna In-room.
https://kotozna.com/en/in-room/customer-voice/
●About Kotozna In-room
Kotozna In-room is a newly developed information dissemination platform and communication tool for accommodation facilities based on the multilingual simultaneous translation chat tool “Kotozna Chat” (109 languages supported as of May 2022). Since its launch in October 2020, it has been introduced in approximately 250 facilities (as of September 2022). Guests do not need to download an application, but simply read the QR code with their smartphones (Note 1). Facility information and information on sightseeing in the area will be displayed in their own language, and they can chat with staff in their native language from anywhere in the facility. Chatbots can automatically respond to frequently asked questions, allowing staff to focus on other tasks. In addition to providing a menu with over 60 items (such as guest services, coupons, etc) in 10 themes, the corresponding items can be customized to meet the needs of the facility. The introduction of this service will enhance virtual communication between accommodation facility staff and guests, thereby simultaneously achieving a contact-free customer service as well as multilingual support, operational efficiency, and sales expansion.
In addition, by utilizing the “JTB Data Connect HUB” (DCH), a digitalization support system for accommodation businesses provided by JTB, Kotozna In-room and lodging management systems (PMS)*2) can be integrated to reduce the cost burden associated with data linkage for lodging businesses and improve convenience for guests. By linking Kotozna In-room with DCH, guests can make online payments through Kotozna In-room.
▽Product Site
https://kotozna.com/en/in-room/
▽Kotozna In-room Introduction Video (JA)
https://youtu.be/CpTe3_Y_zpU
●About Kotozna
https://kotozna.com/en/about/
Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo
2016 Oct : Established
2018 Sept : Released “Kotozna Chat”, a multilingual chat tool
2019 Jun : Certified as J-Startup (Note 2), a Japanese startup development support program promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
2020 Feb : Business alliance with JTB
2020 Oct : Started selling Kotozna In-room (Kotozna In-Room: https://kotozna.com/en/in-room ), a multilingual communication tool for accommodation facilities, with JTB in Japan. Amidst the slump in inbound tourism, it has been evaluated as effective for DX and social distancing, and is currently (as of September 2022) installed in more than 250 facilities such as hotels and inns nationwide.
2021 Mar : Selected as a participant in the fourth phase of the Singapore Tourism Accelerator
2021 Aug : Selected by the Agency of Cultural Affairs for a 19 region project to digitalize and translate cultural property information. From 2018-2021, more than 100 cultural properties in 27 regions have been registered on the “Japan Cultural Properties Portal Site”.
2021 Dec : Kotozna Live Chat (now Kotozna laMondo) PoC begins as part of Singapore Tourism Board program
2022 May : Kotozna Singapore Pte.Ltd. established
2022 Sept : Released Kotozna laMondo (https://kotozna.com/en/lamondo/)
2023 Feb : Kotozna In-room is introduced in 40,000 rooms across 300 accommodation facilities
(Note 1) QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
(Note 2) *Property Management System (PMS): A business management system for accommodation operators which manages accommodation reservations, fees, sales, customer information, etc.
(Note 3) J-Startup: J-Startup is a startup development program promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to support the government’s goal of “creating 20 unlisted venture companies (unicorns) or listed venture companies with a corporate value or market capitalization of $1 billion or more by 2023. Ltd. was selected in June 2019.
Press contact
Kotozna PR Office
mail: [email protected]
Tel : +81-3-6434-0123
