Skip to main content

Smart Phones as Room Keys

Image
By
Starwood introduced a “Smart Check-In” pilot program in February 2010, allowing selected Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG) to skip the Front Desk and use their SPG cards as room keys. This pilot program provides guests an option of skipping the Front Desk during their stay. Today, InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) introduced a similar pilot program at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago O’Hare and the Holiday Inn Express downtown Houston. In these two locations, guests may choose to use their smart phones as room keys (as demonstrated in the embedded video). Here is how it works:

• Guests opt to participate in the program by registering through e-mail or at the Front Desk.
• On the day of arrival, the room number as well as a secured link will be sent to the registered guests’ smart phones via text messages.
• Guests may then open the door with the secured link.

Even though IHG plans to introduce this “mobile-key” concept to more properties, guests may still choose between the smart-phone key and the traditional keycard options. As a manager, how do you evaluate this smart phone practice as a company’s mobile strategy? As a customer, how do you use your smart phones when you travel?

References:
U.S.A. Today: http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok09202010
The embedded video was brought to us via http://innovationcenter.ihg.com/
Labels:

Comments

  1. Sara HwangSeptember 21, 2010 at 6:23 PM

    I like the idea of using ones mobile as a room key. The only idea I do not like is skipping the front desk and knowing/ talking to the workers (guest interactions). In some ways I feel less of a security at times if I was a worker in some unexplainable. But I think it is a great idea of not going through the hassle to wait at the front desk and check in. Especially if you are coming in late or in a rush.

    HPM 321
    Sara Hwang

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Want a job at McDonald’s? Now, it is as easy as talking to Alexa

By
McDonald’s Corporation introduced the world’s first voice-initiated job application process called McDonald’s Apply Thru. Now, job seekers can initiate the job application process through McDonald’s Apply Thru by taking to either Alexa or Google Assistant.

How McDonald’s Apply Thru works
The job application process begins with the applicants saying:
“Alexa, help me get a job at McDonald’s.” 
or
“Google, help me get a job at McDonald’s.”
Then, the job applicants will need to answer a few basic questions, including their name, job of interest, and the location where they want to work.
Afterward, the job applicants will receive a text message with a hyperlink that will take the applicants to continue the rest of the application process.  
Where McDonald’s Apply Thru serve
McDonald’s Apply Thru is now available in nine countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain. It will be made available to other countries in the coming months.
Why McDona…
1 comment
Read more

Is today's market too tough for upscale restaurants?

By
Operating a restaurant is never easy, but is it particularly challenging for upscale restaurants?

 Restaurants Unlimited Inc., for instance, which operates 35 fine-dining and “polished casual” eateries, filed for bankruptcy in Delaware last week. Earlier in June, the Four Seasons Restaurant, an iconic spot for power lunch in Manhattan also closed for business after its reopening within less a year.

Are these two examples an isolated case or the tip of the iceberg? Then, if upscale restaurants are struggling to survive in today’s market, what challenges are they facing?

The rising labor cost

 According to the Bloomberg report, Restaurant Unlimited Inc. hires 50 salaried employees at the chain’s headquarter in Seattle, plus another 168 full-time and 1,885 part-time restaurant workers. The rising wages in Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland have resulted in a total of $10.6 million wage expenses in the fiscal year of 2019. Nevertheless, its revenue for the year ended in May dropped 1%, at $…
1 comment
Read more

Suggestive Selling – All You Have to Do is Ask!! (By Nicole Lee)

By
A simple, relatively normal thing occurred while in the drive-through at Del Taco with my boyfriend the other day.After placing our semi-high maintenance food order, the person taking my order, in a forced monotone voice, unenthusiastically asks, “Would you like to add our new blah, blah, blah for dessert?”All my sweet-tooth-driven ears heard was “dessert” and I wanted something sugary to complete my four-course drive-through meal. My boyfriend asked if I wanted the donut thing they were trying to push, but I ended up going with a churro.As we received our food, my boyfriend told the server, “Good job on the upsell.”In which we received the same unenthusiastic “thank you” in reply. This all led to a discussion about suggestive selling, how easy it is, how to do it correctly, and how beneficial it is.Of course, this Del Taco drive-through upsell experience did not meet our standards of how to do it correctly, but it worked!

Easy-Peasy
Both my boyfriend and I have sales and hospitality ba…
Post a Comment
Read more