Starwood To Put Kiosks In Every U.S. Sheraton

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide yesterday announced that it is rolling out electronic checkin and checkout kiosks at all Sheraton hotels nationwide. The rollout follows a pilot test of the lobby machines conducted last year at the Sheraton Boston and W Hotel Times Square in New York. Kiosks will be installed in the next three months in two dozen key Sheraton business hotels and subsequently across the remainder of the U.S. portfolio. Starwood said there are no plans to introduce the machines at other Ws or at other of its brands.

The Sheraton rollout is the largest commitment to date to automated checkin/checkout technology by a major hotel company. Hilton Hotels Corp. has tested similar technology at its core Hilton brand, but has not announced a systemwide launch.

In addition to basic checkin and checkout functionality, Sheraton Speed Check can record messages travelers receive prior to arrival, dispense additional room keys, process upgrades and room change requests and print and e-mail personal folios. At both Starwood and Hilton, the objective is to save the traveler time and hassle by expediting what can be time-consuming processes. "Slow checkin traditionally has ranked as a major guest concern," said Sheraton executive vice president Norman MacLeod.