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OpenWays Mobile Application is Live at a Holiday Inn
 and Holiday Inn Express Hotel


The world's first mobile front desk bypass solution is up and running at two IHG properties

 

Chicago—Sept. 23, 2010—OpenWays, the hospitality industry's first mobile-based front desk bypass solution, is live and operating well at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago O'Hare Rosemont and the Holiday Inn Express Houston Downtown. IHG is the first company in the world to launch a pilot of the OpenWays technology. Today, guests are given the option to either stop at the front desk to check-in and receive a plastic keycard or bypass the front desk altogether and use  "MobileKey" to proceed directly to their rooms using their cell phone to securely open their door. (See link: http://innovationcenter.ihg.com/).
 
OpenWays works with any of the 5 billion cell phones in the world, including the latest smartphones, such as the Apple iPhone 4 and 3GS, the Google Android-based phones, Blackberry’s, Windows Mobile, Nokia Symbian etc., and it operates with the major electronic-locking systems and access-control systems across the globe. Using the principle of Crypto Acoustic Credential (CAC™) and text messaging (SMS), OpenWays delivers an encrypted tone or "credential" to the right user anywhere in the world. It is highly secured as each encrypted sound produced becomes obsolete the moment it is used, making a fraudulent recording totally inefficient.  
 
During the IHG pilot, guests will have the option to “enroll” for the MobileKey pilot 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 MobileKey. Participants will be rewarded with a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card for filling out a short survey after their stay.

"We are pleased to work with OpenWays on a check-in solution that provides our guests with a freedom of choice,” said Bryson Koehler, senior vice president of revenue and guest technology, IHG. “We are always looking to enhance the guest experience at our hotels, and OpenWays has provided us with a very viable check-in and room key option to meet our guest's needs. We look forward to collaborating with OpenWays throughout the pilot at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago O'Hare Rosemont and the Holiday Inn Express Houston Downtown.”
 
"We would like to thank IHG, Holiday Inn and the wonderful staff at the properties for recognizing the needs of their guests and the brand-differentiation benefits of deploying a mobile-based front-desk bypass program," said Pascal Metivier, OpenWays Founder and CEO. "We'd also like to say 'thanks' for the proactive and efficient cooperation extended by both companies. It has been a true honor to work with such visionaries who strive to keep guest-service at the forefront of their operations and who understand the value that a mobile strategy brings to today's discerning travelers."

This program was launched in close cooperation with the two global leaders in electronic-locking solutions. At the Houston property, the electronic locks from SAFLOK (KABA Group) were upgraded to OpenWays; In  Chicago, ONITY (United Technologies Fire and Security Division) electronic locks received the OpenWays add-on module. At each property, 100% of the locks were retrofitted.
 
With cell phones ubiquitous and a dominant part of everyday life, Metivier said the hospitality industry was in need of a mobile solution that could offer travelers on the go a faster check in option. More and more people want to use their mobile phones to streamline their life, and a MobileKey provides them with an efficient solution for their hotel check in experience.
 
In addition, OpenWays offers a “green” alternative by reducing the use of plastic key cards thus lessening the environmental impact.
 
"We will now focus on maintaining guest satisfaction and on system refinements at these two valued properties," Metivier said. "Based on the anticipated success of this program, we are working on phased larger scale deployments with our customers."
 
For information on how MobileKey is working at Holiday Inn, click on this link: http://innovationcenter.ihg.com.
For more information on OpenWays contact Pascal Metivier at ++ 33 6 85 622 306 or [email protected].
 
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 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].
www.openways.com.
 
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 4,500 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 52 million members worldwide.

IHG has over 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 andWales.

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 2,100 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.
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Contact: 

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

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Also See: Aitor Agueda Joins OpenWays as VP of R&D; Twenty-five year hospitality and security systems veteran instrumental in designing the most installed and successful electronic-locking systems in North America joins OpenWays to lead R&D efforts; Maurizio Zama promoted to Chief Operating Officer / September 2010

OpenWays Cell Phone Based Front Desk Bypass Solution is Adding to the Business Traveler Experience; HITEC attendees using OpenWays app to enter Guestroom 20X said the mobile room key solution, which gives travelers freedom to completely bypass the front desk by using their cell phone for guestroom access, is ideal for all guests who want to avoid lines at the front desk; Company answers new questions posed at the premier technology event / July 2010

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 / June 2010

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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