Starwood Lurker IV

True to its innovative DNA, Starwood Hotels & Resorts once again announces an industry first, this time by redefining the age-old arrival experience. Coming soon, travelers can opt-out of traditional check-in completely – no more lines, visits to the front desk, swiped credit cards, or even keys – and instead use their smart phone to check-in and open their guest room door. A truly keyless check-in allows the first guest interaction with hotel associates to be personal rather than transactional.

This innovation was developed as a top secret project and is the latest in a series of innovations stemming from a multi-year investment Starwood is making in digital/mobile technology including hardware, software, and global infrastructure.

The plan is to pilot first in key tech hubs leading with the Aloft Harlem and Aloft Cupertino in the next three months. Starwood is approaching this project with a start-up mentality, focusing on getting each aspect of the functionality right before rolling it out more broadly. If all goes well, guests could see this technology rolled out in Alofts and Ws first in 2015.

For more information and to be the first to register, please visit www.spg.com/new for more information.

Best regards,

Christopher Carman
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

CIT85

I'm glad that there will be a Beta period to work out the kinks. I stayed for the first time ever at an aLoft, the aLoft SFO, last fall and my permanent aLoft room key never worked. The hotel front desk was unable to get my room key to work.

If a Plat is pre-assigned an upgrade, then this will work fine. If you have to ask about upgrade, then this will defeat the purpose.

KENNECTED

I was just going to post this:

I like the idea of no key!

SPG Keyless Key Video. Filmed at the W Westwood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4d3N...em-uploademail

Lets hope the technology comes to Android first.

Here is a link: www.SPG.com/new

rumblefox

this technology is already available with a bunch of internet of things items like the August lock... so hopefully this is based on a tried and true technology rather than something home brewed.

yulhammeryyz

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BB10; Kbd) AppleWebKit/537.35+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/10.2.0.1791 Mobile Safari/537.35+)

Please include BlackBerry

...and a blackberry 10 app please

Okto

So, with this e-Checkin process, how is the guest's ID verified? Wouldn't this open up the possibility of, for example, an SPG Plat making a reservation for a family member and never show up, yet allowing the family member to receive all the Plat bennies?

KENNECTED

Excellent question! ^

Starwood Lurker

Thank you for bringing this question forward. This is exactly the intent of our pilot phase; to gain this type of insight before wide-spread rollout.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

KENNECTED

Also, can you address two or more occupants. There may be a situation where one is an SPG member (and had the app) and one may not be. In addition, what is a guest doesn't have a smartphone?

Starwood Lurker

They won't be able to do keyless mobile check-in without one, so I suppose they will be using the usual front desk check-in approach, if there is no kiosk.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

KENNECTED

So of the two occupants, one can use the the smartphone and the other a keycard?

BenSenise

there's an article in TechCrunch about this project.

interestingly enough, starwood will use bluetooth 4 rather than NFC. probably because iPhones don't have NFC and I'm not sure if BB phones do. with BT4, this system should work with pretty much all newer phones.

considering the range of BT (~10m?) vs NFC (~2cm), it will be interesting to see how this will work. I'm guessing that the guest would have to interface with an app on the phone to open the door rather than just hold the phone against the door lock.

remymartin

I suppose that's why they're piloting in an aloft

Having said that, though, bedding and smoking preferences are also to be considered.

BenSenise

why stop at family members? invite your friends!!! who'll be first to reach Plat365?

Starwood Lurker

That would be my best guess, but I'm sure the pilot will reveal a lot of things that need to be considered.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]