‍San Francisco, 15th October 2024 - Be My Eyes (bemyeyes.com), the company that connects people who are blind or have low vision with sighted volunteers and companies, through live video and AI, and Hilton, a global hospitality leader, are thrilled to announce a new industry-first accessibility partnership. The partnership aims to ensure hospitality services become more accessible for individuals who are blind or have low vision, and advances Hilton's commitment to creating more accessible travel experiences and exceptional guest experiences for everyone.

Traveling and staying at a hotel often marks the start of a memorable journey, whether it's a business trip, a family vacation, or a special celebration. However, for guests who are blind or have low vision, navigating the layout of a hotel room or unfamiliar facilities can introduce challenges that may affect their overall experience. These obstacles can turn what should be a seamless stay into a more complicated and stressful situation, highlighting the importance of accessible services in the hospitality industry.

The goal of this partnership is simple: to ensure all guests have the same great Hilton experience, and that those who are blind or have low vision have a more accessible, seamless and welcoming stay. 

Under the terms of the partnership, Hilton becomes a key organization in the Be My Eyes’ Service Directory, with an extensive listing of Hilton hotel brands and service contact options. Be My Eyes will provide the platform – known as Service Connect – to channel requests from blind or low vision guests to dedicated, English-speaking Hilton reservations and customer care agents, or a tailored AI-powered visual interpreter known as Be My AI.

Now Hilton guests, who are blind or have low vision and who are requesting assistance during their stay, can connect directly with Hilton’s dedicated agents for live assistance, or simply ask an AI-powered assistant, tailored to the Hilton experience. The intent is to help make the entire hotel experience - learning the room layout, locating room features such as the thermostat or light switches, identifying toiletries, reading menus, and navigating the hotel - smoother, more comfortable, and of course much more accessible.

The partnership extends across a variety of Hilton’s portfolio of brands, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton by Hilton, and more. These services are available to Be My Eyes users in the U.S. and Canada.

“Our mission at Be My Eyes is to break down accessibility barriers in everyday life, and this partnership with Hilton is a significant step along that path, helping travel and hospitality to be much more inclusive,” said Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes. “Hilton is once again leading by example and we’re excited to provide the world’s best customer service platform to help Hilton serve blind and low vision consumers.” 

This partnership between Be My Eyes and Hilton is a world first, and as such is poised to redefine what is meant by accessibility in the hospitality industry. By leveraging Be My Eyes' innovative platform, Hilton continues to lead the way in providing exceptional, inclusive service to all its guests. 

“As a leading hospitality company, Hilton is committed to creating an experience that is welcoming for every guest, at every hotel, every time,” said Mike Gathright, senior vice president, customer excellence and innovation, Hilton. “We believe that every guest – regardless of ability or any other factor – deserves a reliable and friendly travel experience and we are proud to partner with Be My Eyes to make that more of a reality for thousands of Be My Eyes users.”

For more information, visit Hilton’s website or download the Be My Eyes app to explore the Service Directory and connect with a Hilton Reservation and Customer Care Agent.

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About Be My Eyes

Launched in 2015, Be My Eyes is a globally recognized and award-winning access technology provider for people who are blind or have low vision. With a global community of 700,000 users, and nearly 8 million volunteers, Be My Eyes connects blind and low vision users with sighted volunteers and companies, through live video and AI to tackle inaccessible parts of everyday life, whether at home or at work; all for free to the end user. Be My Eyes is available in more than 150 countries worldwide and its volunteers speak more than 180 languages. 

To learn more, please visit bemyeyes.com or join us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Threads and TikTok.

About Hilton    

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 24 world-class brands comprising approximately 8,000 properties and more than 1.2 million rooms, in 126 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for seven consecutive years. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 195 million Hilton Honors members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.