News for the Hospitality Executive |
.Ariane Systems Group Awarded
Government Funding to Develop
Mobile Self-service Platform for Hospitality Industry
ATLANTA / August 10, 2009 -- Ariane Systems Group (Paris, France) is pleased to announce that its mobile check-in/check-out project, nicknamed �VIKI�, has been selected by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to receive government financing as �one of the most innovative research and development projects for 2009�. The ERDF will fund 40% of the development costs for this innovative, mobile hospitality self-service platform. �VIKI� will revolutionize the hospitality industry by enabling customers to check-in/check-out where and when they want - whether using a desktop computer, a laptop, a cell phone or another PDA. The features that will be offered with this software platform are countless, as it will integrate online mobile payment solutions and enable the user to modify their bills, addresses and guest profiles remotely. �The check-in/check-out procedures, often a source of frustration for hotel guests, have not changed in 15 years,� explains Laurent Cardot, Managing Director and co-founder of Ariane Systems. �Now, with our new mobile check-in/check-out application, guests will be able to check-in online from their computer before arriving at their hotel, or perform their check-out from their cell phone while comfortably sitting in a taxi on their way to the airport,� adds Cardot. �For 10 years, Ariane Systems has been deploying self-service check-in/check-out kiosks in hotel lobby areas. Our newest application, �VIKI�, anticipates the needs of our clients, many of whom are using cutting edge technologies in their everyday lives� adds Laurent Cardot. Ariane Systems has partnered with several companies to develop the innovative mobile application: LIP6, a research center specializing in telecommunications and information technology; Lemon Way, a start-up company specializing in mobile applications and the leader in mobile banking technologies; Hotel Performance, a major hospitality group; and Taos Technologies, experts in the deployment and support of custom developed software and guest-facing technologies including self-service checkin/ check-out kiosks in North America. Jeff Councilman, President of TAOS Technologies, LLC, said, �Ariane Systems continues to lead the charge to new innovation in hospitality guest-facing self-service solutions. The open architecture of their Allegro Suite software platform was critical in our decision to partner with them in North America. Going forward, its device independent architecture will enable hotel guests the controlled ability to interact with multiple hotel systems, and provide hotel owners an opportunity to reduce operating costs while focusing attention on maximizing the guest experience.� In June, Ariane Systems and Taos Technologies announced their joint venture, Ariane Systems North America (AS NA); Ariane Systems North America is led and managed by Taos Technologies, LLC in Atlanta, GA. About Ariane Systems
About Taos Technologies
About the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
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