Starwood rolls out mobile room keys

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has started offering guests the ability to bypass the check-in desk and unlock their room using their smartphone.

The new ‘SPG Keyless’ technology was launched today (5 November 2014) at 10 Starwood hotels in Asia and North America. Connected to the SPG app, the new technology tells guests when their room is ready and allows them to unlock the door with a tap of their smartphone.

“Not only does SPG Keyless alleviate a perennial pain point for travellers, but it also transforms the first interaction with our guests from one that is transactional to something more personal,” said Frits van Paasschen, Starwood’s president & CEO. “This is just the beginning, because through mobile we have the opportunity to marry high tech and high touch to transform the hotel experience in many exciting ways.”

After making a reservation at an applicable hotel, members of the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) programme will be invited opt in to SPG Keyless. Once their room is ready, they will then receive a notification of the room number and a Bluetooth key. The guest can then access the room by holding their Bluetooth-enabled smartphone against the door lock.

SPG Keyless went live on Wednesday at the Aloft Beijing, Aloft Cancun, Aloft Cupertino, Aloft Harlem, W Doha, W Hollywood, W Hong Kong, W New York-Downtown, W Singapore and Element Times Square.

Starwood now plans to roll out the initiative to 150 hotels by early 2015, under its Aloft, Element and W brands.

sourced:traveldailymedia.com