To alleviate the workload of the hotel front desk team, especially amid staffing shortages in the hospitality industry, we proposed incorporating an additional simple feature on existing Hilton mobile app. Our analysis shows that guest satisfaction scores are significantly affected by staff availability.

The app feature will connect guests directly with relevant departments, such as housekeeping, concierge, and restaurants, for common requests, bypassing the front desk. We streamlined the user interface to simplify navigation. Additionally, the app will include a feedback mechanism for guests to confirm when their requests have been fulfilled, ensuring a closed feedback loop.

Our Team Kyonell, which is inspired by “Kyoto” and “Cornell,” pitched a new probiotic product opportunity combining both Japan and US elements: Cubio Amazake, a traditional Japanese rice-koji, combined with upcycled NY apples that could be made available to consumers as a convenient, ready-to-go frozen kit.