Sleeping on success

CapsuleTransit CEO & Co-founder Ryan Loo’s big idea is to integrate sleeping facilities within an airport building rather than build a large hotel next to the airport.

Loo impressed many delegates at the 2019 Trinity Forum in Qatar with his presentation on the CapsuleTransit concept, which meets the needs and values of millions of transit travellers. Stays are offered in blocks of time of three, six and 12 hours. Booking and check-in can be conducted using a smartphone, with passengers using their mobile phone to unlock the door after receiving an authentication code.

But CapsuleTransit is not just an idea – it is already thriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Now, a new 70-pod, 2,500sq ft airside facility has opened at klia2 in what the company describes as the “next generation” of the concept.

The facility features both mixed and female-only zones, and offers single pods complete with a comfortable bed, luxury pillows, towels and complimentary dental kits, earplugs and sleeping eye masks. Other features include clothes hangers, an in-room safe, luggage storage facilities and access to hot showers.

In a neat touch, CapsuleTransit has also announced a tie-up with beauty brand Benefit Cosmetics for the pods in the female-only zone to include complimentary cosmetics samples. As part of the agreement, the full-sized cosmetic products are available for purchase at the hotel’s reception desk. The tie-up hints at the retail potential of in-airport sleeping facilities.

“After five years of research, listening to feedback and fine-tuning, this next generation CapsuleTransit hotel in klia2 significantly upgrades its airport-centric features with a more ergonomic design, more amenities and better sound-proofing,” said CapsuleTransit Chief Creative Officer and Co-founder Vincent Tan. “It provides them with a great base from which to explore airport shops and food & beverage outlets.”