This week's official opening of Aloft Harlem, which is said to be the first new hotel from a major brand in the renowned upper Manhattan neighborhood in some 100 years, could be a smart move by Starwood Hotels.
A stay there by members of the Starwood Preferred Guest program will appropriately come with some "smart" technology.
Members of Starwood's loyalty program can opt-in to take advantage of Aloft Harlem's Smart Check-In program.
Prior to their stay, members are sent an Aloft-branded SPG card, which doubles as a room key and enables guests to bypass the front desk and head straight to their pre-assigned room.
The room assignments are sent to guests' mobile devices on the day of the reservation.
To enter their rooms, guests touch and hold their Aloft-branded SPG cards, which use RFID technology, in front of the lock to gain entry.
Thus, with Smart Check-In, guests can bypass the line at the front desk.
The hotel knows to charge the credit card used to make the reservation for any incidentals, although this can be changed upon arrival.
Smart Check-in is available at Aloft Harlem and Aloft Lexington , in Lexington, Mass., and is slated to debut at other properties in New York and Europe.
Aloft Harlem has 124 guest rooms and is located at the intersection of Frederick Douglass Boulevard and W. 124th Street in Harlem.
The property offers wireless and wired high-speed Internet access in guest rooms and free wireless in public areas.
Aloft is part of Starwood's W Hotels brand. The Aloft brand debuted 18 months ago and currently has 40 properties in its global portfolio.