voco Hotels - How a luxury brand under IHG enhanced guest experience with EV charging

voco Hotels, a luxury brand under the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), is known for its premium guest experience and commitment to sustainability. That's why they decided to offer EV charging on their premises.

Following its launch in 2018, voco is IHG’s fastest-ever brand to go global, with a presence across 25 countries and counting. Created to stand out from the crowd, voco is doing just that, having been voted the World’s Leading Premium Hotel Brand at the 2021 World Travel Awards.

The sustainability mission calls for EV charging

As part of IHG’s global initiative to reduce its carbon footprint, voco has taken significant steps to integrate eco-friendly practices across its properties. One such move was investing in EV charging solutions, a strategic decision that enhances guest satisfaction, future-proofs their business and aligns with the UK’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate.

In the UK, voco Hotels branches Oxford Spires, Oxford Thames, and Cardiff identified EV charging as a necessity for their long-term commercial success and guest satisfaction. With the UK government targeting 80% of new cars to be zero-emission by 2030, the need for convenient and reliable charging infrastructure is rapidly growing. 

Understanding guest demand

In a survey Virta carried out together with Kantar, we asked EV drivers about their views on EV charging infrastructure at hotels. We found that 80% of those surveyed said that EV charging facilities impact their choice of a hotel. In fact, only 5% said it does not affect where they stay.

Photo 1: Guest charging at voco Hotels charging site.

At voco Oxford, about 40% of the vehicles in their car park were EVs, so the customer demand was more than evident.

James Bell, Hotel Manager at voco Oxford Thames, recognised this demand early on, “Not only are our guests asking for this service, but they are willing to pay a premium price for it, too. Having EV chargers allows us to expand our market share, offer a unique competitive advantage, and maximise our revenue by charging for this service and holding a captive audience of EV drivers coming to charge and perhaps grabbing lunch or coffee while waiting.”

Photo 2: James Bell, Hotel Manager at voco Oxford Thames.

As Suki Sangha, from Virta’s UK Sales team, says, “Hoteliers stand to benefit from this trend, catering to users who prioritise EV-friendly services. Hoteliers offering charging can boost their core service sales across accommodation, food and beverage, and meeting services.”

“It feels to me that EV charging has the potential to be the most significant new development to the hotel business since the implementation of online booking platforms,” adds James. 

voco Hotels realised they needed to invest in EV charging technology to stay ahead. That’s when they started looking for a provider to partner with.

voco and Virta join forces

While voco Hotels was eager to implement EV charging, they faced technical challenges. voco’s existing hotel properties lacked the electrical capacity to support many EV chargers. One solution would have been to install battery storage and invest in power grid expansion but that would have meant high associated costs.

Photo 3: voco Hotels EV charging site with Alfen AC chargers.

By partnering with Virta, voco was able to navigate these issues and find cost-saving solutions. At voco Oxford Spires, we have implemented load-balancing solutions to manage power distribution effectively.

At voco Oxford Thames, a new submetering system was installed to support high-demand charging needs. Submetering EV chargers provides voco with energy consumption data, which they can use to optimise energy usage and reduce costs.

James noted, “The key to success was working with a knowledgeable partner. Virta stood out with its exceptional customer service, technical expertise, and flexible approach. Their solution was as close to cost-neutral as possible while still delivering maximum value."

Virta also equipped voco Hotels with a Payment Kiosk to simplify card payments. Thanks to the Payment Kiosk, voco Hotels can offer ad-hoc payments to EV drivers who aren't registered to any charging provider's service. This offers simplicity and opens up vocos chargers to even more EV drivers.

Photo 4: EVs charging at voco Hotels charging site with Virta's Payment Kiosk on the left.

voco Hotels are ready for the future

Investing in EV charging made voco Hotels ready for the increased volume of EV-driving guests at their properties. Thanks to the load-balancing solutions, the charging infrastructure is designed to be used more over time.

As demand for EV-friendly hotels continues to rise, voco can monitor charger usage and plan to expand the charging network as needed, thanks to the monitoring and reporting features of the Charge Point Management System, Virta Hub.

For voco Hotels, EV charging isn’t just about convenience; it’s a strategic investment that aligns with their commitment to sustainability and exceptional customer service.

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