Starwood expands keyless entry to hotels worldwide

The Bluetooth-based mobile keyless entry solution unveiled by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide in November 2014 has been extended to select Le Méridien, Westin, Sheraton and Four Points hotels, with “many additional properties” expected to go live with SPG Keyless over the coming months.

StarwoodStarwood’s Aloft, Element and W properties are already providing the service, which is currently available at more than 160 locations in over 30 countries. The luxury hotel chain is also expanding the service to enable multiple guests sharing the same room to take advantage of keyless entry.

“All they need is an SPG account and the SPG app,” Starwood says. “In this upcoming product update, SPG is also expanding mobile check-in capabilities on the SPG app, rolling out over the next few months.

“Already, over 350,000 members have registered for SPG Keyless, with SPG Platinum members being the most frequent users of the keyless solution, which provides a streamlined check-in process custom-made for their on-the-go travel needs.

“SPG Keyless has proven to be most popular in urban city-center hotel locations, especially at mid-size Aloft and W properties. The top five SPG Keyless cities are New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas and Miami, while the top five countries based on usage are the US, China, Canada, Hong Kong and the UK.”

Remote control

“The wider rollout of SPG Keyless acknowledges the role mobile is playing as the remote control for travelers’ stays across a broader range of brands,” the company adds. “Now, even more guests can share in the SPG Keyless experience by unlocking their doors with their smartphone.”

“SPG Keyless is literally opening doors for SPG members,” says Alyssa Waxenberg, vice president of mobile at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “It is also transformative for Starwood’s hotel associates, allowing them to better engage with guests. Rather than the first interaction being the swipe of a credit card, hotel associates can now focus on ways to better personalise guests’ stays.”

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