Skip to main content

Say Good-bye to the Front Desk

Image
By
This afternoon, Starwood Hotels introduced the “Smart Check-in” pilot program at its Aloft Hotels brand. Selected Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG) who choose to participate in this program will receive an “enhanced SPG/Aloft-branded RFID (radio frequency identification) keycard.” Here is how it works:

On the day of arrival, SPG guests will receive a text message with their room numbers. Then, they can skip the Front Desk and go straight to their rooms. They can open the door with the enhanced SPG keycards. Starwood is testing this program in its Aloft Lexington location. In the future, guests will be able to use the enhanced SPG keycards for other purchases during their hotel stays, such as cocktails and food.

Many frequent travelers have already used express check out and skip the Front Desk. We are also aware that people can check-in in a hotel with an iPhone app (http://linchikwok.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-will-iphone-travel-apps-change-our.html). Now that guests do not even need to stop by the Front Desk to pick up their keys, is it time for us to say good-bye to the Front Desk? In addition to saving labor costs, I believe “smart cards” can help the industry become “greener” by combining repeat guests’ reward cards and hotel room keys into one device. What do you think?

References:
Yahoo!Finance: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Skip-a-Trip-to-the-Checkin-bw-2221867726.html?x=0 Pictures were copied from http://passionsofazealot.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/2719763825-3a3cfffa98-b.jpg; http://www.hotels.com/13/hotels/1000000/10000/9100/9099/hcom_9099_31_b.jpg
Labels:

Comments

  1. Linchi KwokMay 25, 2010 at 7:03 AM

    A follow-up news article by U.S.A. Today (05/24/2010)

    Holiday Inn to test smartphone as hotel-room key; some guests prefer to skip front desk

    http://content.usatoday.com/communities/hotelcheckin/post/2010/05/holiday-inn-and-intercontinental-test-technology-use-smart-phone-to-open-hotel-door-open-ways/1

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Luxury vs. Millennials and Their Technology: The Ritz-Carlton (By Julia Shorr)

By
Embodying the finest luxury experience, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC has been established since 1983. In 1998, Marriott International purchased the brand offering it more opportunity for growth while being independently owned and operated. They are known for their enhanced service level as the motto states, “Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen”. The luxury brand now carries 97 hotels and resorts internationally and is attempting to keep the aspects of luxury while keeping up with the trends of the technologically improving generations. The Varying Demographics of the Target Market The Ritz-Carlton’s typical target market includes: business executives, corporate, leisure travelers, typically middle-aged persons and elders, and families from the upper and upper-middle class section of society .   This infers a large range of types of travelers in which all are similar in that they are not opposed to spending extra for the luxurious ambiance. However, with
4 comments
Read more

Is It OK for Hotel Staff to Wear Piercings and Tattoos?

By
Time has changed. I see more and more college students wearing piercings and tattoos nowadays, but is it OK for hotel staff to wear piercings and tattoos? The answer is “no, no, no.” According a report at USAToday.com, customers across the board do not want to see any hotel workers with pierced eyebrow, pierced tongue, tattooed arm, or nose ring. Some may argue that tattooed and pierced workers may seem more acceptable in edgy boutique hotels as compared to the big franchised hotels, but the survey results did not find any differences among a variety of lodging products. Many respondents believe people who wear visible tattoos and piercings are taking a high risk of their professional lives. If you stay in a hotel, do you mind being served by tattooed and/or pierced staff? What if you are the one who makes the hiring decision? References: USAToday.com: http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010 Picture was downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010P
25 comments
Read more

Besides helping the environment, what other benefits can restaurants see from green food packages?

By
Restaurant curbside pickup evolved from the old-fashioned takeout service and has gained momentum since COVID. Restaurateurs embrace the concept, and consumers want it. Curbside pickup will remain an essential restaurant distribution method even after the pandemic. Do off-premises restaurant services add a burden to the environment? The surge of restaurant off-premises services (curbside pickup, takeout, or delivery) could harm the environment because many retailers use food containers and packages made of plastic for one-time usage. Research shows that our world populations produce 130 million tons of single-use plastic a year (including more than food packages here), but in the U.S., only 8% of all plastic products get recycled. Some restaurants have begun using more sustainable materials in food packaging (e.g., disposable containers). Their efforts deserve a round of applause! Nevertheless, it is unclear if their good deeds can also bring them monetary rewards. For example, can gr
5 comments
Read more