Starwood Preferred Guest Program Offers Guests Room Entry via Mobile App

Starwood’s Preferred Guest (SPG) program is offering members room entry via a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone app, the chain said in an email to members Tuesday. The SPG Keyless app allows SPG members to check in, get an assigned room number and unlock their doors at participating hotels. The app is available for iPads and generation 4s and later iPhones running iOS 8 and for Android devices running version 4.3 or later, Starwood said. After downloading the app, users are directed to register their device. To be eligible to use the features, users must have an spg.com account and login set up; have a valid email address, credit card and registered device; have a single room registered and booked through a Starwood channel; a device set to accept push notifications and have Bluetooth set to on, it said. Ten hotels were participating as of Tuesday, including W, Element and Aloft venues in Beijing; Cancun; Cupertino and West Hollywood, California; Hong Kong; New York; Qatar; and Singapore. Members were urged to check back often for additions to the list. Qualifiers include local regulations and rate plans, according to a FAQ section.