Four Diamond property upgrades to the Quantum electronic lock and Messenger wireless communication system
Four Diamond property upgrades to the Quantum electronic lock and Messenger wireless communication system
Global electronic hotel lock provider, Saflok, has completed its installation at The Townsend Hotel.
This Forbe's Four Star and AAA Four Diamond 150-room luxury hotel in Birmingham, a Detroit suburb, replaced a hardwired locking system to an innovative wireless solution from Saflok. These new stand-alone Saflok locks are powered by a single AA battery pack, with no wires running to the locks. The system's most significant advantages are customer convenience and the latest real-time, two-way communication to and from the locks.
Approximately 200 Saflok Quantum adese radio-frequency identification (RFID) locks have been installed on the property. The Quantum adese (pronounced “odyssey”) RFID locks are contactless, smart card readers. The locks are operated by Saflok's System 6000 Windows-based front desk operating system and Saflok's Messenger bidirectional wireless system. The Messenger system works on the internationally accepted ZigBee-compliant platform and includes the Messenger LENS (Lock Event Notification System) component.
Messenger LENS conveys events to and from the lock in real-time as they occur. LENS offers a complete schedule of notifications that can be used to the benefit of the property and its guests. Properties can select the type the information and reports that they want to receive from the locks and determine the group of subscribers receiving the notifications and messages. Different notifications types can be sent to a specified group of users.
"Our focus has always been to make the guest experience a wonderful experience," said Peter Wilde, MD of the Townsend Hotel. "We are proud to partner with Saflok to offer our guests the most advanced security technology — while maintaining the heritage and elegant appeal of our hotel."
The Townsend plans to activate a number of notifications to enhance the guest's experience, security, and convenience. For example, a notification can be sent to the hotel's concierge when a frequently returning VIP guest has entered their room, prompting the concierge to deliver an expected package, letter or fax. To provide upgraded security, LENS can also be programmed to alert when a door is left ajar or to detect patterns such as wandering intruder. Additionally, the Messenger system also eliminates the need for a guest to visit the front desk to extend their stay.
"The Townsend Hotel is the first in Michigan to use the Messenger LENS," said Kerry Hirschy, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing for Kaba Lodging Systems. "With this installation, the hotel will improve efficiencies across all operations and offer upgraded security and service."
Intended to be seamless and not apparent to the guest, this RFID system is contactless. The Townsend's guests no longer need to insert a key into the lock reader to unlock the door. They merely place the fob about an inch from the reader to unlock the door. Each fob is programmed with timed access and will only work for the duration of the guest's stay.
If a guest loses a fob, the front desk can program a new fob that automatically cancels out the previous one. Additionally, RFID credentials do not demagnetize, which may sometimes be a concern with magstripe systems.
"The Townsend Hotel has partnered with Michigan-based Saflok to provide our guests with a state-of-the-art, online locking system for enhanced hotel security and added guest convenience," Wilde said. "The Townsend has a history of partnering with other Michigan-based companies, and we're proud to work with Saflok."
Hirschy said, "We have taken proven Saflok technology and innovation and given it a new style." This product joins the list of company's design-centric product offerings such as the Quantum sectional trim lock and the highly-acclaimed adese lock which has two design patents attributed to it.
Saflok also premiers a new enhancement to its existing RFID remote control unit (RCU) reader that allows it to read RF signals from behind non-metallic surfaces allowing the unit to be concealed behind glass, and other opaque materials. Hirschy said, "This advanced feature makes the same powerful security available to guests in a less obtrusive manner."