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Front-Desk Bypass Cell Phone Solution: OpenWays Announces First Pilots at a
Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express Hotel


OpenWays and IHG will pilot a new cell-phone-based front desk bypass solution

that offers guests the option to use their personal cell phone as a mobile room key

Chicago - June 16, 2010—OpenWays, developer of the hospitality industry's first mobile-based front desk bypass solution, will give guests at the Holiday Inn Chicago O'Hare Rosemont and the Holiday Inn Express Houston Downtown "freedom of choice" like never before. As part of a summer pilot beginning in August, travelers visiting the two IHG properties can choose between "Mobile Key" access to their guestroom, enabling them to bypass the front desk upon arrival, or continue to check-in the traditional way and obtain a plastic keycard prior to going to their room.

"We are thrilled that IHG has agreed to pilot the OpenWays technology by introducing our front desk bypass solution, which offers true guest-centric services to their guests," said Pascal Metivier, OpenWays CEO. "It is our goal through this test program to validate the wide-reaching returns that such a cell-phone-based front desk bypass solution brings, including: improving the guest experience by offering more choice and control for guests and reducing environmental impact and operational costs by decreasing the need for plastic keycards.”
 
OpenWays uses the principle of Crypto Acoustic Credential (CAC™) and text messaging (SMS) to securely deliver an encrypted tone or "credential" to the right user anywhere in the world. Installation of the technology at hotels involves a simple upgrade to all existing room locks with an OpenWays CAC decoding device. And, the solution is compatible with the latest smartphones (including the new Apple iPhone 4 and 3GS, the Google Android-based phones, Blackberry’s, etc.) and every other cell phone and carrier worldwide as well as all the major electronic-locking systems and access-control systems.

 
The easy-to-use Mobile Key invites each guest via e-mail to "enroll" for the mobile room key service before their check-in date. The day of arrival the guest receives a text message containing both the room number and a secured link to retrieve the room key. When the guest arrives at the hotel, he or she can bypass the front desk, go directly to the room, and via cell phone open the door lock. Each CAC “aural” key produced is encrypted, unique and becomes obsolete from the moment it is used for optimum security. 
 
During the pilot, which involves all of the guestrooms at the Holiday Inn Chicago O'Hare Rosemont and the Holiday Inn Express Houston Downtown, guests will have the option to “enroll” for Mobile Key via the e-mail sent prior to their check-in date or at the front desk. If they choose to participate in the pilot, they will be among the first guests to use Mobile Key.
 
"Technology allows us to find new ways to continue to improve the guest experience at our hotels. More and more of our guests – especially Gen Y and business travelers – are looking for simpler, more efficient ways to check-in and get to their rooms,” said Bryson Koehler, senior vice president of revenue and guest technology. “Due to the proliferation of mobile devices, a Mobile Key could prove to be a great option for those guests who want to go straight to their room and bypass the front desk. We are excited to start the pilot program this summer at two of our hotels, and we look forward to hearing from our guests about their experiences with Mobile Key.”


About OpenWays
OpenWays is a global solution provider of mobile-based access-management and security solutions. With offices in Chicago, Las Vegas, Seoul and Paris, OpenWays provides technology solutions allowing for the secure issuance and delivery of access rights and keys process via any cell phone operating on any network. The OpenWays solution is truly unique as it built on the concept of credential dematerialization. The OpenWays mobile room key solution works on ALL the 4.4 billion cell phones in service in the world today. For more information, please contact Pascal Metivier at ++ 33 6 85 622 306 or email [email protected] or Barb Worcester at +1 440 930 5770 or email [email protected].

About InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms.  IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns, through various subsidiaries, over 4,400 hotels and more than 650,000 guest rooms in 100 countries and territories around the world.  The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards with 48 million members worldwide.
                                                                                                                            
IHG has 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.
 
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.
 
IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media
 
About Holiday Inn
With more than 1,300 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn Hotels is the most widely recognized lodging brand in the world.  In fact, Holiday Inn was one of the first international hotel brands to establish a presence in China in 1984. Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts provides the services that business travelers need, while also offering a comfortable atmosphere where all people can relax and enjoy amenities such as restaurants and room service, swimming pools, fitness centers and comfortable lounges.  The casual atmosphere and amenities such as meeting and on-site business facilities, KidSuites rooms and, Kids Eat and Stay Free programs, demonstrate the long-standing commitment of Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts to serving travelers and have helped to establish the brand as “America’s Favorite Hotel.”  For more information about Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Resorts, including IHG’s new vacation resort brand Holiday Inn Club Vacations, or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit www.holidayinn.com.
 
About Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express hotels are modern hotels for value-oriented travelers.  Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, Holiday Inn Express hotels offer competitive rates for both business and leisure travelers.  Guests Stay Smart® at Holiday Inn Express hotels where they enjoy a free hot Express Start® Breakfast Bar, free high-speed internet access and free local phone calls (US and Canada only).  There are currently more than 2,000 Holiday Inn Express hotel locations around the globe.  For more information about Holiday Inn Express hotels or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit www.hiexpress.com.


Contact: 

Barb Worcester
PRPRO
Tel: (440) 930-5770
[email protected]

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Also See: OpenWays Mobile Phone Front Desk Bypass Solution Selected for Guestroom 20X at HITEC; Attendees of the 38th Annual Hospitality Information Technology Exposition & Conference will have an opportunity to check into a virtual hotel, bypass the front desk, and open their room door securely using nothing but their cell phone -- any mobile device, any carrier works! / May 2010

OpenWays Opening Doors to Gen Y Travelers Wishing to Bypass Front Desk; Allowing guests to check-in remotely by equipping door locks to open via any cell phone is ideal for attracting this green-conscious, tech-dependent, instant gratification generation / May 2010

OpenWays Selected by Microsoft® to Join Its BizSpark™ Start-Up Program; Developer of the world's first crypto acoustic solution for check-in/out and room access via any mobile phone to receive full Microsoft marketing support, tools, licensing, and global visibility / April 2010

ITB Berlin Attendees Flock to OpenWays' iPhone App for Front-Desk Bypass, Acoustic Room Keys; Attendees at world's largest trade show for the travel industry flocked to see world's first crypto acoustic solution for check-in/out and room access via any guest's mobile phone; OpenWays was one of 11,127 companies from 187 countries that exhibited at the record-breaking event / April 2010

OpenWays Presents its iPhone Application to Bypass Front Desks and Open Room Locks; Mobile solution provider that developed the world's first crypto acoustic solution for check-in/out and room access via any guest's mobile phone announces new services to further enhance operations and guest services. / February 2010

OpenWays Responds to FAQs Regarding its Front Desk Bypass Solutions that Securely Open Hotel Room Doors by Cell Phone; Mobile solution provider that developed the world's first acoustic solution for check-in/out and room access via a guest's mobile phone regardless of type answers hospitality industry's most frequently asked questions / February 2010

100% of the World Cell Phones to Open Doors with OpenWays' Apps; Hospitality's FIRST Check-In /-Out Solution with Mobile Room Key Delivery for ALL Cell Phones is at IH/MRS! / November 2009

4 Billion Cell Phones Now Opening Doors to Better Guest Service Thanks to OpenWays / October 2009

OpenWays Introduces the Fastest and Greenest Way to Check In and Open a Hotel Room Door; Mobile room-key application for ALL cell phones NOW AVAILABLE / October 2009
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