BMW uses NFC car keys to open hotel room doors

The luxury car maker has worked with hotel key card specialist VingCard to develop a way for drivers to book a hotel room from their car, download their room key to an NFC-enabled car key and receive special offers available just to BMW drivers.

BMW and Vingcard show off NFC keys
CHECKING IN: Future BMW keys could open more than just car doors

Hotel key card leader VingCard Elsafe, part of the Assa Abloy group which last year conducted a landmark NFC mobile keys pilot at the Clarion Hotel in Stockholm, has partnered with car maker BMW to develop new technology that will enable drivers to book hotel rooms on the go and then access their guestrooms using their car keys.

“The collaboration between VingCard Elsafe and the BMW Group will change the way travelers book last-minute hotel reservations,” says VingCard.

The service begins with a driver using their built-in BMW vehicle navigation system to search for nearby hotels and access special offers available only to BMW drivers. Via an interface with Micros-Fidelio’s hotel property management systems, drivers can then book their hotel of choice from their car.

Once the reservation is made, the vehicle navigation system notifies the driver of their assigned room number and guides the driver to the hotel. The access code for the hotel room is downloaded wirelessly to the driver’s NFC-enabled car key.

Upon arrival at the hotel, the driver can then go straight to their room, bypassing the check-in process, and use their car key to open the VingCard Elsafe contactless door lock.

“Drivers will receive special hotel discounts and offers in association with this technology, in addition to special recognition within the hotel,” says VingCard. And “the arrangement carries special benefits for participating hotels, as well.”

“Besides access to an elite source market — upscale BMW drivers who are looking to immediately make a hotel booking — hoteliers also receive valuable, detailed guest profile data if the customer explicitly wants to share this data. This information will allow for extraordinary customer relationship management and highly targeting marketing opportunities. Furthermore, the system allows for a streamlined transaction, since the booking and check-in process are completely automated.”

BMW has been working on an NFC car key concept for several years. A wide range of other vehicle manufacturers are also working on NFC.

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