Montreal,
Canada — January 19, 2011 —
Ariane Systems, the world
leader in self-service check-in/out technology for the
hospitality industry, today announced the completion of a hardware and
software
integration with KABA, a leading global supplier  of electronic hotel locking
solutions. The newly developed integration allows Ariane Systems’
electronic
self-service check-in/out kiosks operating on the Allegro software
platform to
encode, dispense and read RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
keycards that
can be used with KABA’s Saflok brand RFID-based locking solutions.
Saflok RFID
locks utilize secure and reliable read-write technology, which is
compatible
with widely available MiFare® ISO 14443 credentials. In addition,
they are NFC
(Near Field Communication) compatible, and meet the most stringent
standards in
the industry, including ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certification. The integration between Ariane Systems’
Allegro online/mobile/kiosk software platform and KABA’s Saflok RFID
technology
was originally commissioned by Nordic Choice Hotels, specifically for
its new
Comfort Hotel Xpress brand, which will incorporate the latest
self-service
technologies into its overall guest operations. The first property to
implement
the integrated solution, the Comfort Xpress Hotel in Oslo, Norway,
opened
January 10, 2011 with a fully automated check-in/out system that allows
guests
to register at a bank of Ariane kiosks in the lobby and go directly to
their
assigned rooms. Upon guest verification, the kiosk encodes and
dispenses an
RFID keycard that activates the appropriate Saflok door lock when
presented to
the card reader. When checking out, guests simply insert their RFID
keycard
into the card reader on the lobby kiosk to view their folio details and
complete the check-out process. Nordic Choice Hotels will expand the
use of
this technology to several other hotels in the future. “RFID technology is an ideal enhancement to self-service kiosks, since both technologies are specifically designed to maximize convenience for the guest and operational efficiency for the hotel,” said Kerry Hirschy, senior VP of sales and marketing for KABA Lodging. “A key element of guest service today is ensuring that guests are able to get into their rooms quickly and easily. KABA’s RFID technology is easy to use and complements Ariane’s self-check-in solutions. Guests simply present their cards to the lock reader to unlock the door.” Another important benefit of RFID technology is its superior reliability. Unlike, mag-stripe keycards, which can become scratched or demagnetized, RFID keycards are not susceptible to demagnetization, making them extremely dependable and secure. “As the hotel industry continues to enhance the guest reception process, kiosks and RFID will play a valuable supporting role in maximizing guest satisfaction and convenience,” says Christelle Pigeat, VP of sales for Ariane Systems. “The reliability of the system means that guests never have to go back to the lobby to replace their key card. Both technologies are aligned with the new model of efficiency in the hotel industry, and we are proud to be partnering with one of the leaders in locking technology.” For more information, please contact Christelle Pigeat at Ariane Systems at +1 (514) 295 5944, or email [email protected].  About Ariane Systems | Ariane Systems is the world’s leading provider of self check-in / check-out technology solutions for the hospitality industry. Founded in 1998 by Michel Lavandier and Laurent Cardot, Ariane now has over 1,600 installations running at hotel properties in 20 countries. Numerous hotel chains utilize Ariane’s electronic kiosk solutions to streamline the check-in/out process. These include Accor, B&B Hotels, Choice Hotels, Fasthotel, InterContinental Hotels Group and Starwood Capital’s Louvre Hotels, among others. With corporate headquarters based in Paris, France, Ariane Systems maintains regional offices in the UK, Germany, Spain, Benelux, Scandinavia, the Middle East and North America. For more information, please visit www.ariane.com.  About
KABA, Saflok | KABA is a globally active, publicly
traded security corporation. With its “Total Access” strategy,
KABA
specializes in integrated solutions for security, organization, and
convenience
at building and information access points. KABA is also the world
market’s
number one provider of key blanks, key cutting and coding machines,
transponder
keys, and high-security locks. It is a leading provider of electronic
access
systems, locks, master key systems, hotel locking systems, security
doors, and
automatic doors. www.kaba.com/lodging-products.
A market innovator with 30 years of experience designing,
manufacturing, and
distributing electronic locks and systems, Saflok joined KABA in 2006.
Its
solutions are installed globally in the hospitality, lodging,
multi-housing,
and commercial markets. Saflok is committed to delivering best-in-class
solutions that help properties achieve improved operations and reduced
costs. www.saflok.com |