Announcing the Global Debut of SPG Keyless from Starwood Hotels & Resorts: The First Mobile, Keyless Room Entry
Rollout Begins Today at Aloft, Element and W Hotels around the World
3 November
It's a mobile office. It's a virtual wallet. It's a lifeline. And now, it's a hotel room key. Today, the smartphone will get a whole lot smarter – especially while on the road. Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), the award-winning loyalty program from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), introduces SPG Keyless, the hospitality industry's first mobile, keyless entry system allowing guests to use their smartphone as a key. Rolling out to Aloft, Element and W Hotels around the globe, SPG Keyless makes its official debut today in 10 hotels in markets including Beijing, Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles and Doha.
SPG Keyless is a groundbreaking turning point in the traditional hotel experience, redefining the age-old way guests arrive and check-in to their rooms. SPG Keyless – powered by the SPG app – enables guests to bypass the front desk (where available), go directly to their room and unlock their stay with a simple tap of their smartphone.
"Not only does SPG Keyless alleviate a perennial pain point for travelers, but it also transforms the first interaction with our guests from one that is transactional to something more personal," said Frits van Paasschen, Starwood's President & Chief Executive Officer. "This is just the beginning, because through mobile we have the opportunity to marry high tech and high touch to transform the hotel experience in many exciting ways."
SPG Keyless goes live Wednesday, November 5th at the following hotels: Aloft Beijing, Aloft Cancun, Aloft Cupertino, Aloft Harlem, W Doha, W Hollywood, W Hong Kong, W New York-Downtown, W Singapore and Element Times Square. Starwood will rapidly rollout SPG Keyless with plans for it to be available on 30,000 doors in 150 hotels around the globe by early 2015 across Aloft, Element and W Hotels. SPG Keyless is available to SPG members who book a hotel room through one of Starwood's channels (hotel websites, SPG.com, the SPG app or customer contact centers).