“InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is always looking for ways to improve the guest check-in experience, whether it’s a kiosk or an app, and we’re determined to find out what it is. For example, we recently piloted a real world application of OpenWays at two hotels, the hospitality industry's first mobile-based front desk bypass solution, which we are calling mobile room key. The purpose of the pilot was to test the OpenWays technology and see if it effectively provides our guests with check-in options. Guests choose whether they want to go right to their hotel room upon arrival by using their cell phone to open the door or check-in at the front desk and get a standard room key. Here's how it works: The guest makes a hotel reservation by phone or online and provides their phone number. A text message is sent with the room number and phone number to dial to the guest’s phone. Upon arrival, instead of stopping at the hotel front desk, the guest proceeds directly to the room door and calls the special toll-free number included in the text message. When it answers, it recognizes and validates the guest’s number, and responds with a tone. The tone sounds; the guest places the phone near the door lock; and it opens. This is not currently an app-based technology, but maybe someday it will be.”
“Someday” the technology will look like in the video below
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