Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide is testing a pilot program in the coming months whereby loyalty program members will be able to access rooms with their smartphones through a mobile, keyless check-in process.
A pilot program is set to begin at select locations in the coming months and it would launch in 2015 in Starwood’s Aloft and W hotels.
No one from Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide would comment on the pilot program directly, but Starwood issued a statement attributed only to a company spokesperson.
“True to its innovative DNA, Starwood Hotels & Resorts once again announces an industry first, this time by redefining the age-old arrival experience,” the statement reads. “Coming soon, travelers can opt-out of traditional check-in completely - no more lines, visits to the front desk, swiped credit cards, or even keys - and instead use their smart phone to check-in and open their guest room door. A truly keyless check-in allows the first guest interaction with hotel associates to be personal rather than transactional.”
According to the statement, this innovation was developed as a “top secret” project led by the Starwood digital team out of the company’s Stamford, CT headquarters working in collaboration with Assa Abloy, a lock partner in Sweden.
“This is the latest in a series of innovations stemming from a multi-year investment Starwood is making in digital/mobile technology including hardware, software, and global infrastructure,” the statement says. “The plan is to pilot first in key tech hubs leading with the Aloft Harlem and Aloft Cupertino in the next three months. Starwood is approaching this project with a start-up mentality, focusing on getting each aspect of the functionality right before rolling it out more broadly. If all goes well, guests could see this technology rolled out in Alofts and Ws first in 2015.”
For more information, please visit www.spg.com/new.
Keyless check-in is enabled via the Starwood Preferred Guest app, an iPhone app that allows users to perform functions like find nearby hotels and book rooms by preference, access maps and directions, and track reservations.
Starwood Preferred Guest, or SPG, is the brand’s loyalty program, which allows members to earn points for stays, upgrades, and flights.