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 Elsafe Selected by Accor as its Sole
Approved Provider of In-Room Safes
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Global security giant chosen for product quality and diversity, UL listing, extensive audit trail capability and superior customer service and support; Only Elsafe has achieved the prestigious UL listing in the anti-theft device category, passing physical break-in, endurance and jarring tests 

DALLAS � APRIL 14, 2005 � ELSAFE HAS BEEN EXCLUSIVELY CHOSEN BY Publicly traded Accor S.A. (Euronext Paris Symbol AC), one of the world�s largest hospitality companies,  as its sole global supplier of in-room safes for its  4,000 hotels comprising 463,427 guestrooms in 90 countries. 

The exclusive three-year agreement will bring Elsafe�s Infinity Digital, Sentinel Advanced and Xtra Advanced in-room safes to Accor Hotels Worldwide, including prestigious and visible brands such as Sofitel, Novotel, Motel 6, Red Roof Inn, Mercure, Ibis, Etap.

�Accor recently concluded an extensive analysis of all in-room safe products in the global hospitality market,� said Christian Wee, VP of sales for VingCard Elsafe in Norway, who was instrumental in cultivating the Accor/Elsafe relationship. �Following a comprehensive review of product quality, security and certifications, technology and service from all vendors, Elsafe�and only Elsafe�emerged as the Sole approved partner for Accor going forward.�

Pascal Metivier, a senior executive of Assa Abloy Hospitality Worldwide, the holding company of Elsafe, said several key factors played into the selection process, including the fact that Elsafe�s diverse portfolio of security products mirrors the diverse portfolio of Accor brands.

�Like Accor, Elsafe offers something for everyone: The Infinity Digital is ideal for Accor�s five-star properties; the Sentinel Advanced offers the perfect solution for the mid-priced hotel brands; and the Xtra Advanced is targeted towards the economy and budget brands,� Metivier said. 

�In addition, Elsafe is the one-and-only in-room safe manufacturer in the hospitality industry which passed extensive testing by Underwriters Laboratories Inc.,� he said. �Both the Elsafe Infinity and Sentinel safes were fully certified with the UL symbol, achieving the prestigious UL listing in the 1037 anti-theft device category, passing physical break-in, endurance and jarring tests. The UL symbol is the trusted source across the globe for product safety compliance � making Elsafe the trusted in-room safes manufacturer for the hospitality industry.�

Proud Partnership

Accor entered into its first worldwide preferred vendor agreement with Elsafe in 2001. 

�It was a great honeymoon period, during which we faced challenging demands, especially on the service side,� Wee said. �But, it gave Elsafe and our support team ample time to prove to Accor that we were willing to meet their high expectations and that we were in fact the best safes provider on the market. Not only did we impress Accor during that trial period, but we formed a lasting partnership that we are confident will continue for many years to come. We are proud to be affiliated with such a dynamic global hotel brand.�

Thinking outside the �box�

�One of the biggest misconceptions that hoteliers need to overcome is that an in-room safe is just a box with a keypad,� Metivier said. �On the contrary, it�s a security solution that has been designed to meet all human factor requirements. It�s convenient�especially if the safe features an optional duplex electric outlet so guests can simultaneously secure and recharge their laptops, camcorders or other electrical devices�easy to use, aesthetically pleasing and provides critical liability benefits to hotel owners and operators.�

Through this partnership, both Accor and Elsafe will strive to provide the highest levels of safety, security, satisfaction and convenience for guests while enhancing and protecting asset value for owners.

About VingCard Elsafe
The world leader in hotel security technology, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality has products installed in more than 33,000 properties worldwide, securing in excess of 5.5 million hotel rooms. The ASSA ABLOY Group, a publicly listed company, is a world leader in security and hospitality systems. VingCard provides numerous electronic locking system solutions, including traditional magnetic-stripe and smartcard systems, fully integrated PMS interface software solutions and worldwide service and support. Elsafe provides the only UL-listed (1037) hotel safe series on the market today in keypad and card-based models. Safes that include an internal power outlet to support recharging of laptops and camcorders also are available with a UL listing. Elsafe customers also enjoy the same worldwide service and support. The ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Group is dedicated to the hospitality. For more information on VingCard Elsafe, visit www.vingcard.com or www.elsafe.com.


 
Contact:

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

Also See: Elsafe Asks: Are Your In-Room Safes REALLY Safe? / November 2004
Ken Brown Joins VingCard Elsafe As SVP Marketing and Sales, North America / November 2004
Four Cornerstones Ensure Sound Principles and Fair Business Practices For ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Brands (Elsafe, Timelox, VingCard and INHOVA) / May 2003
Elsafe Renews Global Agreement with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to Supply In-Room Safes / March 2003
Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan Upgrades to VingCard Locking System to Enhance Guest Security and Convenience / March 2003
Elsafe Selected to Provide In-room Safes to Accor Hotels Worldwide / Dec 2002


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