Hotel Online  Special Report



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 Pascal Metivier Appointed President of Assa Abloy
Hospitality for Europe, Middle East, Africa
and Latin America 
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Hospitality industry security expert tapped to expand global penetration of company�s VingCard Elsafe,TimeLox, Uniqey and Kingsgate brands

DALLAS � JUNE 15, 2005 �Pascal Metivier, a 12-year hospitality industry veteran and widely recognized as a specialist in hotel security for more than a decade, has been named President of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, effective immediately. Metivier will be based in Europe.

�Pascal will focus his talents on enhancing the overall hospitality businesses throughout the international market, including VingCard Elsafe, TimeLox, Uniqey and Kingsgate� said Timothy Shea, CEO of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Worldwide.

�Pascal�s expertise transcends many levels, from conceptualizing security systems that meet the varying needs of the worldwide hotel audience, to marketing these products to make dollars and �sense� for both hoteliers and the companies developing the systems, to educating hoteliers and the industry on how to use security technology and practices for guest, employee and asset protection programs based on system implementation,� Shea said. �Metivier is an asset to Assa Abloy Hospitality Worldwide and the customers it serves and we are proud to have him on board.�

Prior to joining ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, Metivier held several senior executive positions at Onity and was instrumental in the success and growth of the company since 1999. In addition, he has been personally responsible for numerous security technology patents now in existence�namely those for electronic locks. 

One vision, Multiple brands

�It is a privilege to align myself with a company such as the ASSA ABLOY Global Technology Division and ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Worldwide that are forward looking, security driven and customer-centric,� Metivier said. �Customer service and product integrity have been, and always will be, the driving force behind ASSA ABLOY Hospitality as a holding company. For our companies VingCard Elsafe, TimeLox, Uniqey and Kingsgate, it will remain our No. 1 priority.�

Metivier said that each of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality�s brands operate independently, and are positioned to meet the disparate needs of each hospitality segment they support through product, service and technology. The growing number of security companies under the ASSA ABLOY Hospitality umbrella confirms the company�s significant, long-term commitment to the hospitality industry. 

�From mega-casino resorts that need complex integration technology to luxury, up-scale, mid-scale, economy and independent properties looking for varying levels of sophistication for electronic locks and in-room safes, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality companies and brands offer something for everyone,� Metivier said. �Each company provides a distinctive solution for the hotels they serve worldwide, making ASSA ABLOY Hospitality the global leader in hospitality security solutions.�

�We Listen�

One of the first initiatives implemented by Metivier last year when he joined ASSA ABLOY Hospitality U.S. was the �We Listen� program, designed initially for VingCard Elsafe customers.  Beginning in November 2004, 9,300 U.S.-based VingCard Elsafe and Timelox customer hotels were contacted and asked to provide feedback on each brand�s service and product performance. The results confirmed that at least 78% of customers give VingCard, Elsafe and Timelox brands an exceptional rating of 4 or 5 (out of 5) on overall product satisfaction. Metivier will now carry the �We Listen� program to more than 33,000 customer hotels around the world. 

�It�s easy for a company to say that they put their customers first, but to my knowledge � and to the knowledge of our customers, based on their comments � ASSA ABLOY Hospitality�s �We Listen� initiative is the first of it�s kind,� Metivier said. �Our customers tell us that never before has a security vendor actually taken the time to visit with them to do nothing more than �listen� to comments, concerns and suggestions.  We�ve learned a lot from our customers, and have already begun to implement their suggestions.�

Metivier said the company is using its �We Listen� program to enhance existing products and services and weed out some products that have outlived their effectiveness. The program also was a fantastic learning experience to better appreciate how new security technologies can be used for the benefit of the hospitality industry.

�In today�s world, especially among the hospitality and travel industries, security is top of mind,� Metivier said. �Therefore, as a true global hospitality company, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality is driven to develop and refine global security solutions that protect owners from liability, hotel assets from physical loss, and worldwide travelers and the items they value from potential internal and external threats.� 

�Our mission is simple: To remain the world�s No. 1 choice for hospitality security solutions,� he said. �This will be accomplished threefold: First, by listening to our customers� comments and suggestions in order to create new, superior customer service and support standards and build on existing long-term relationships; Second, by standing accountable for all our products on the market to ensure that hotels worldwide are providing the safest environments possible; Third, by designing the most technologically-advanced, yet affordable and easy-to-use security solutions for the global hospitality industry. The bottom line: �We Listen.��

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. Specialized brands. Uniquey and Kingsgate were recently added to the ASSA ABLOY Hospitality family.


 
Contact:

Hege Breivik Bjørsagård
Marketing Manager
VingCard Elsafe HQ
Tel: 00 47 69 24 50 44 
[email protected]

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

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Also See: Elsafe Providing a �Safe� Environment for Business Travelers and HSIA Users / June 2005
When Security Counts . . . Count On VingCard to Upgrade Your Electronic-Locking System / June 2005
Elsafe Selected by Accor as its Sole Approved Provider of In-Room Safes / April 2005
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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