Apple Watch lets you order an Uber, check into your flight, make a dinner reservation and now for the first time ever you can open your hotel room door all with the flick of the wrist. Starting today, members of Starwood Preferred Guest, the award-winning loyalty program from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., have instant access to the #spglife thanks to the SPG App for Apple Watch.
Marrying high-tech and high-touch, the SPG app for Apple Watch is designed to anticipate and respond to the in-the-moment needs of guests from mobile check in, to opening their guest room door, to providing information like the hotel address, room number, confirmation number, and directions and SPG account information with just a glance of the wrist.
“We’re committed to mobile and digital innovation and are excited to be the first hotel company to let guests check in and open their hotel room door with their Apple Watch,” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Loyalty and Partnership Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, in a statement. “In today’s mobile world, people increasingly expect their technology to help them do whatever they need on the spot. Apple Watch allows us to engage with our guests and give them the information they need instantaneously in a simple yet extremely stylish way.”
A tap of the finger gives instant access to in-the-moment features including:
• Navigate like a Native: Leveraging state-aware technology, guests receive the hotel address and directions in both the default and the local language upon arrival in their destination city. Throughout a guest’s stay, the app shares transportation options including estimated costs.
• Hassle-Free Check-in: Reservation details and confirmation number are front and center, ensuring a smooth check-in.
• Unlock Your Stay: After registering for SPG Keyless, the Apple Watch will automatically send guests their room number and will function as their hotel room key at any SPG Keyless enabled Starwood hotel allowing guests to bypass the front desk (where available).
• See into the Future: The app will display the hotel name, photo, and stay dates for up to four upcoming Starwood stays.
• Track Your Status: Members can access their SPG account information, receive alerts about newly posted Starpoints, and get congratulated when they graduate to elevated statuses
• You’re Speaking My Language: Currently available in English, the SPG App for Apple Watch will feature Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish languages.
In November, Starwood redefined the age-old way guests arrive and check-in to their rooms with the introduction of SPG Keyless, the hospitality industry’s first mobile, keyless entry system allowing guests to use their smartphone as a key. Starwood partnered with ASSA ABLOY, the global leader in door opening solutions, to create an all-new, Bluetooth-enabled lock and keyless software, which are designed to securely recognize and connect with a guest’s mobile device and now Apple Watch.
“We know guests expect service and convenience in the palm of their hand and now it’s available at the flick of the wrist,” added Vondrasek. “Member response to SPG Keyless has been terrific and grows every day as we continue to roll out this functionality around the globe.”
More than 130,000 SPG members in 130 countries have registered for SPG Keyless. Currently available in more than 100 Aloft, Element and W hotels, SPG Keyless is rapidly rolling out and will soon be available on 30,000 doors in 150 Aloft, Element and W hotels around the globe.
Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts
I just paid for coffee at Starbucks with it using the Passbook app… worked a treat!
I can only imagine the oohs and ahha
Actually, nobody even noticed. I found it most convenient tho.
In Canada we can’t do this even with our iPhones let alone the watch. Drives me mad!!
Aren’t you guys famous for not locking your doors? 😉
Question: Does Apple pay work even if it off your wrist?
If it does what happens if someone steals your iPhone and your watch? Because then they no longer would need your Touch ID.
Secondary question: Anyone know if it measures your blood oxygen level?
I’ve read that if you remove the Apple Watch from your wrist it will not perform Apple Pay transactions till you place it back on your wrist and ‘unlock’ it. So if someone steals both your iPhone and Watch they can’t use your Apple Pay w/o your registered fingerprints
As for measuring blood oxygen levels, I understand that the function exists for the Watch to do so but it is turned off due to either or both of FDA approval difficulties/consequences and not giving consistent data across different skin conditions (dry, hairy, sweaty, etc.). And possibly also how loose the Watch may be worn.
No it doesn’t work off your wrist. Once it detects a heartbeat it asks for a security code. Take it off and ApplePay is disabled. Also the O2 sensor has not been enabled yet….
if the apple watch can now unlock doors at over 100 starwood hotels, that means any time someone gets robbed, the first thing they’ll do is suspect anyone wearing an apple watch!
and anyone staying in a starwood hotel will have people wearing apple watches walking in and out of their rooms whenever they like… how is that a good thing?!
The Apple Watch hotel app is linked to your hotel account for access. Random Apple Watch wearers wandering around the hotel will not have access to your room.
For people who don’t “get” Apple Watch: Imagine Disney World’s Magic Bands, but about a million times more useful and out in the real world. Anybody who doesn’t think this is going to bring about a profound change in society can join John Dvorak over in the corner. I think he may just now be coming around to this newfangled pointing device called a “mouse”.
So do you have to touch the iPhone or Apple Watch to a sensor or does it work as long as you are within a couple feet like key-less fobs for autos?
What kind of sensor? If you’re referring to Apple Pay, it doesn’t have to touch but also feet away would be too far, more like inches.
Considering that my question was at top level and the article was about opening hotel room doors I thought I was asking about that. 😀 I figured for Apple Pay you would want the device and reader to be pretty close.
and yet Emily can open just about ANY hotel door worldwide…..
Oh thanks a lot TT, looks like the wife is gonna get a good pounding now. But, I won’t mention this picture, lol.
Yet the truly faithful would prefer to use the Watch….
So you stumble to your room at 11PM, DRUNK.then attempt to open your door with your watch, only to find the battery died an hour ago. Have a nice sleep in the hall, suckers.
11pm?
yup, trolls are whimps, passing out at 11 is a sign they live in their mothers basement,