Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s loyalty program iOS app was featured in Tuesday’s product launch of the Apple Watch.
The multimedia keynote presentation for the Apple Watch, Apple’s first wearable device available in 2015, featured the app for Starwood Preferred Guest. The app will allow guests to open their hotel door simply by holding Apple Watch in front of the door and tapping it. Kevin Lynch, Apple’s vice president of technology, said the offering will be available at all W Hotels properties worldwide by spring 2015.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Stamford, Connecticut, said the app will have other functionalities, too.
“When Apple Watch is available next year, we envision endless ways Apple Watch could help us enhance our guests’ experiences at our hotels from instantly recognizing guests with a warm, personal welcome to empowering our SPG members to bypass the front desk. When you arrive at a destination airport, a notification will take you to a list of transportation options to your hotel. When you arrive at the hotel, a notification shows you your room number with instructions for using Apple Watch to unlock your room and when you arrive at the bar, you’ll be asked via notification if you’d like your usual drink brought to your table. You can also view your SPG account in Glances. The marriage of high tech and high touch is poised to transform the hotel experience in so many exciting ways and at Starwood we’re committed to being on the cutting edge of what’s next,” said Chris Holdren, Starwood’s senior vice president SPG & digital.
Click here to watch Apple’s Tuesday product launch event. The section featuring the Starwood app begins at 90:39. The event also included the product launch for Apple’s iPhone 6 and Apple Pay, a mobile payment application that allows an iPhone or Apple Watch to replace credit/debit cards.
