Starwood Hotels & Resorts is piloting a new programme that will allow customers to use their mobile smartphones to check-in and open their guest room door.
According to the US-based hotel giant, the group’s digital team and Assa Abloy, a Swedish lock company, developed the system. The plan is to pilot the programme in tech hubs within the US.
Aloft, the group’s boutique brand will be the first to introduce the system in its Harlem and Cupertino properties.
The technology is supported on the iPhone 4s or newer models, as well as on Android phones running version 4.3 “Jellybean” or later. Guests are required to install the Starwood app on their phone prior to use.
Starwood has not revealed how the technology works. However, a video attachment on the group’s official website indicates door locks respond to the proximity of a smartphone, and activate accordingly. Whether this is done via Bluetooth, or directly through the Starwood app is still unknown.
It has been emphasised that the technology is in its infancy, and will be approached with a “start-up” mentality.
If all goes well, the new technology will be rolled out gradually to Aloft and W Hotel branded properties first.
For more information, visit www.starwoodhotels.com
Clement Huang
