 DALLAS– September
6, 2011 – VingCard Elsafe, the global leader in hospitality
security and
part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, announces that several of its proprietary
technology solutions have been integrated as critical components of a
revolutionary Smart Check-In program at one of Starwood Hotels &
Resorts
Worldwide, Inc.’s (NYSE: HOT) newest hotels, Aloft New York Brooklyn.
VingCard
Elsafe’s VISIONLINE wireless RF-online locking system is making it
possible for
Aloft Brooklyn guests to completely bypass the front desk upon arrival.
Meanwhile, Orion by VingCard Elsafe, an energy management solution with
full
wireless online functionality, is integrated with the locking system to
help dramatically reduce energy consumption while ensuring guestroom
temperature
comfort.
Starwood’s Aloft Hotels brand has selected VingCard to provide the advanced RFID technology behind its groundbreaking Smart Check-In program. Through the new program, which launches at Aloft Brooklyn in September, Starwood Preferred Guest® members may choose to receive an Aloft brand SPG card that features an embedded RFID tag. On the day of a planned stay at Aloft Brooklyn, a text message is sent directly to the guest’s mobile device that indicates their room number at the property. Upon arrival, the guests can proceed straight to their guest room, where their encrypted Aloft brand SPG card will unlock the door, providing unprecedented convenience, security and ease-of-operation for the hotel and guests alike.  VingCard's VISIONLINE system
features standalone electronic locks that communicate with a central
property
server via online radio frequency, eliminating the need to manually
encode
keycards, cancel master cards and check battery life. A remote audit
trail and
live card-tracking capabilities provide valuable intelligence in the
event of a
guest dispute. And optional advanced communication functionality keeps
hotel
management constantly in the loop regarding security issues via
automated text
message or email. Aloft Brooklyn also
features the Orion by VingCard energy management system, a technology
integrated with VISIONLINE that automates energy conservation and
eliminates
wasteful utilities use throughout the hotel's guestrooms. Orion
automatically
assumes control of ambient temperature when guestrooms are unoccupied,
never
allowing them to become either too warm or too cold. Upon guests'
return, the
system automatically resumes the preset temperature settings. Energy
expenditure is the second highest cost for the hospitality industry,
and Orion
can dramatically reduce a hotel’s energy bill. Hung Luk, Senior Vice
President
of the LAM Group, which owns Aloft Brooklyn, expects to save 25% or
more on
energy costs thanks to Orion. “We wanted to implement a green-friendly technology that helps us conserve energy, but we wanted to do it without sacrificing the quality of the guest experience. Orion by VingCard fit the bill perfectly,” Luk says. “LAM Group strives to be out in front, on the leading edge of hotel technology. Between the Smart Check-In technology and this amazing energy management system, Aloft Brooklyn is, without question, one of the most technologically advanced hotels in New York, and customers will flock to stay with us as a result.” “Implementation of these two groundbreaking solutions by VingCard and Orion at the new Aloft Brooklyn represents Starwood’s commitment to providing both maximum guest convenience and increased property efficiency through the most advanced guest-facing and operational technologies, particularly through the Aloft brand,” said George Winker, vice president of sales for VingCard Elsafe, Americas. “That commitment to technological innovation is mirrored throughout our organization, as we work toward to future of technology.” Featuring 176 loft-like guestrooms, Aloft Brooklyn occupies a prime spot in the heart of the borough, located next to the bustling Fulton Mall and minutes from the renowned Brooklyn Academy of Music, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, the newly-opened Brooklyn Bridge Park, nightlife, restaurants and hip boutiques. Aloft Brooklyn features a stunning two-story lobby atrium with the brand’s signature w xyz bar and an expansive roof terrace bar with panoramic views of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines. VingCard Elsafe is the world leader in developing locking systems and electronic in-room safes for the hospitality industry, offering user-friendly security systems that meet the unique operational needs of hotels and resorts. For more information, please visit www.vingcardelsafe.com. About VingCard Elsafe  The world leader
in hotel security technology, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality has products
installed in
more than 39,000 properties worldwide, securing in excess of 6.5
million hotel
rooms and is part of the ASSA ABLOY Group, a publicly listed company.
VingCard
provides numerous electronic locking system solutions, including
traditional
magnetic-stripe, smartcard systems and the latest RFID electronic locks
compatible with the main ISO standards: ISO 14.443A (MIFARE), ISO
14.443B,
ISO15.693 and NFC-compatible (Near Field Communication), fully
integrated PMS
interface software solutions, as well as the world leader in wireless
online
locking solutions for hotels based on ZigBee secured open platform.
VingCard
has worldwide service and support in more than 166 countries. Elsafe
provides
the only UL-listed (1037) hotel safe series on the market today in
keypad and
card-based models. Elsafe Safes include a UL-listed internal power
outlet to
support recharging of laptops and camcorders, full wireless online
capabilities
and RFID versions compatible with VingCard system. Elsafe customers
also enjoy
the same worldwide service and support. Orion by VingCard Elsafe is the
new
Energy Management Solution that reduces energy consumption, ensures
guest
comfort and contributes to improve hotels green initiatives. The ASSA
ABLOY
Hospitality Group is dedicated to the hospitality industry. For more
information on VingCard Elsafe, visit www.vingcard.com, www.elsafe.com, www.orionbyvingcardelsafe.com.
About Aloft Hotels Created to shake up the staid, traditional select service segment of the hotel industry, the Aloft brand delivers style at a steal with urban-influenced, modern, open and vibrant design - and a social guest experience - at an affordable price point. In the same way that W Hotels broke through the clutter of conformity in the upscale hotel arena more than a decade ago, Aloft is shaking up the industry for the next generation of traveler. Aloft hotels are geared toward savvy, design-conscious consumers who grew up with the democratization of design. Building on its tech-savvy DNA, the brand recently pioneered the industry’s first “keyless entry” automatic check-in program at Aloft Lexington in Massachusetts. With nearly 50 hotels open in the two years since Aloft first arrived on the scene and nine more opening in 2011, Aloft can be found everywhere from Abu Dhabi and Baltimore to Dallas and Beijing and everywhere in between. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com. Aloft Hotels, like all brands within Starwood’s portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, which offers a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com. About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1051 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com. |