Following a partnership with the ride-sharing app, Westfield will bring Uber drop off and pick up stations to its malls, with a special lounge at its Century City location.
On Sep 1., Westfield announced it had formed a partnership with the ride-sharing company, Uber. As a result, 33 Westfields malls across the U.S. will have Uber drop off and pick up stations, including Westfield Century City. Westfield will digitally map all 33 locations into Uber’s map so drivers know exactly where to pick up and drop off riders.
Each mall will have up to 10 Uber stations, each with prominent visibility, accessibility and signage, similar to taxi stands.
The Century City location will also have a lounge with what Westfield promises will incorporate “ultra-modern design, sleep seating,” complimentary drinks, free newspapers and magazines, and phone charging stations. Users will also be able to make restaurant reservations, buy tickets to shows and even make use of a personal stylist.
While there are no official dates as yet, Westfield promises that the program will start sometime in the fall, which should potentially coincide with the grand reopening of Westfield Century City.
“Westfield’s shopping centers already have an incredible combination of fashion, food, services, and amenities, all in one place with digital enhancements such as product search, directional and frictionless parking,” said William Hecht, chief operating officer, US, in an official release. “Now we are thrilled to be able to partner with Uber to leverage modern technology in a way that makes it more convenient that ever to travel to and from any Westfield destination.”
Hecht also told Businessoffashion.com, “The number one objective is that we need to be able to provide convenience. We have a plethora of shops and restaurants in one location, we have technology in place for the search side of it, and now we are providing a way of being able to get to and from the shopping centre in a much easier, more ambient way.”
Shoppers will also be able to pick up their goods that they purchased at the mall in the Uber lounge.
“Uber wants to make transportation seamless for everyone, everywhere – but we can’t do it alone,” said Amy Friedlander Hoffman, Uber’s head of business development and experiential marketing. “Partners like Westfield play an important role in cities and how people move with them, so we’re excited to work together on this first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at delivering the best possible experience to our riders when they’re going shopping, dining or catching a movie.”
