VingCard Elsafe Turns Car Keys into Room Keys
VingCard Elsafewww.vingcardelsafe.com has partnered with BMW Group, manufacturer of premium automobiles, on the development of revolutionary technology that will enable drivers to book hotel rooms on the go and then access their guestrooms using their car keys. The collaboration between VingCard Elsafe and the BMW Group will change the way travelers book last-minute hotel reservations.
Employing BMW's advanced vehicle navigation systems, drivers can conduct searches for available hotels nearby. Then, leveraging an interface with Micros-Fidelio hotel property management systems, drivers can book their hotel of choice. Once the reservation is booked, the vehicle navigation system guides the driver to the hotel and notifies him or her of the assigned room number. Upon arrival at the property, the guest can proceed straight to the room, bypassing the check-in process. The guest’s BMW key, which is equipped with next-generation Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, has by now wirelessly received an access code for the guestroom lock. The BMW key communicates with the NFC-enabled VingCard Elsafe lock to open the door.
The hotel reservations interface in the BMW Group’s research vehicle is safe to use while driving, unlike other forms of mobile booking. Consumers can employ the service with confidence, knowing that user data and payment information is securely transmitted by BMW-backed encryption. Moreover, the drivers will receive special hotel discounts and offers in association with this technology, in addition to special recognition within the hotel.
The arrangement carries special benefits for participating hotels, as well. Besides access to an elite source market—upscale BMW drivers who are looking to immediately make a hotel booking—hoteliers also receive valuable, detailed guest profile data if the customer explicitly wants to share this data. This information will allow for extraordinary customer relationship management and highly targeting marketing opportunities. Furthermore, the system allows for a streamlined transaction, since the booking and check-in process are completely automated.