AppleInsider Staff
Following a successful trial run in the U.S., Starwood Hotels will now allow guests at a number of the company's properties around the world to walk past the front desk during check-in and unlock their hotel room door using only their iPhone or forthcoming Apple Watch.
The SPG Keyless functionality, built into Starwood's SPG app, will be available starting 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 hotels. Starwood says availability will expand to 30,000 doors in 150 Aloft, W, and Element hotels worldwide by early 2015.
"Not only does SPG Keyless alleviate a perennial pain point for travelers, but it also transforms the first interaction with our guests from one that is transactional to something more personal," Starwood chief Frits van Paasschen said in a release. "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."
To take advantage of the program, travelers will need a recent iOS or Android device with support for Bluetooth Low Energy. Keys are managed through the SPG app, and will be served up as push notifications approximately 24 hours before arrival.
Starwood first unveiled the iPhone-based program in January of this year. The partnership with Apple was then expanded with the introduction of the Apple Watch, with the SPG Keyless app featured during the wearable's introduction.
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17 Comments
Forward thinking businesses will earn my $'s moving forward. I appreciate companies that make investments to push developing technologies.
1) Don't expect NFC any time soon. 2) I can see this as a way for the guest to save time and the hotel to save money.
I would use this in DC.
I expect this will be the killer app for smart watches. As part of my workday I have to carry 3 different cards (2 transit systems and my company's security card). During a normal workday I have to swipe my company card 15-20 times. For example to get from my desk to a meeting on another floor and back requires 4 swipes. Being able to wave my wrist at a scanner rather than pulling out my card each time would be wonderful. And if I could do away with 3 cards to carry, it would be well worth ditching my day-to-day watch and having to charge a smart watch every night. On net, it would be 2 fewer things to remember each day. And with Apple Pay, in theory I could ditch my wallet at well. Presumably someday we'll be able to do away with physical drivers license cards as well, but I'm not holding my breath (and it's not obvious that I trust the government to run an app on my personal devices).
1:04-1:14 Open up the competition. LOL!!! That scene sums up perfectly what the Apple 6 can do with this technology, and what the Android phones cannot do.