Westfield in partnership with Uber

Westfield’s billion-dollar renovation of its Century City Mall in Los Angeles will include a swanky Uber Lounge where customers can wait in style for their rides.



The shopping center owner has formed a partnership with Uber to facilitate use of shared rides at its centers nationwide. The mall owner will create drop-off and pick-up stations at every one of its U.S. properties, whose locations will be digitally mapped into the Uber app. The idea: make pick-ups and drop-offs easier and build mall traffic.



The deal includes the introduction of Westfield's first permanent Uber Lounge, which will be located at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles. The center is undergoing a $1 billion renovation to debut this fall. Westfield Century City's Uber Lounge will feature ultra-modern design, sleek seating, and customer amenities to let customers “wait for their Uber in style,” according to a company press release.



Moving forward, Westfield centers will host between one and ten Uber stations – each with prominent visibility, accessibility, and signage – similar to dedicated taxi stands or ridesharing pick-up points at entertainment and transportation venues. At some of the Westfield destinations, the Uber stations will also include kiosks with customer service representatives and "brand ambassadors trained to engage with customers and facilitate their Uber experience," the company said.



“Westfield’s shopping centers already have…digital enhancements such as product search, directional, and frictionless parking,” said Westfield COO William Hecht. The Uber deal, he added, “makes it more convenient than ever to travel to and from any Westfield destination.”



The service is not new to L.A. Caruso has for some time had a permanent Uber pick-up/drop-off location at The Grove. Last year it was the Uber’s busiest spot in the city with more than 2,000 drop-offs daily.