Chicago’s latest development, the Wheelhouse Hotel, has chosen OpenKey as its mobile keyless app partner with Assa Abloy Hospitality’s RFID Bluetooth-enabled electronic locks. The hotel, developed by a joint venture between Horizon Realty Group, Holiday Jones and Marc Realty, is slated to open late 2017 in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, just a block from Wrigley Field.
The OpenKey app will enable seamless room access for guests of the Wheelhouse, while also reducing the hotel's carbon footprint by reducing the use of disposable plastic keys. Implementing OpenKey’s technology will also provide guests with a convenient source for directions to the property, amenity booking, notification of early or late arrival to the hotel and more.
“As technology continues to integrate itself within hospitality and travel markets, guests are beginning to expect conveniences like mobile check-in and keyless entry,” Holiday Jones company manager Robert Baum said in a release. "OpenKey will help us to seamlessly integrate this convenient technology while also elevating the guest experience.”
In addition to guaranteeing added convenience for guests, OpenKey’s mobile key technology will bring benefits to staff and management at the Wheelhouse. The partnership allows developers to reduce the cost of investment in traditional RFID cards, helping to lower spending. The smart technology also allows front desk staff to better manage the guest experience, increase customer loyalty and improve administrative efficiency.
With Assa Abloy Hospitality mobile access compatible and active locks, resort guests can quickly and conveniently enter their guestrooms with a swipe of their smart phone. The global leader in hotel security technology, Assa Abloy Hospitality continues its efforts in partnering with companies that share a common vision of innovating hospitality security.
Named after the area in a batter’s strike zone most likely to produce a home run, the Wheelhouse is located just a block south of Wrigley field. Developers of the Wheelhouse wanted to strike a balance between preserving the industrial heritage of the space and modernizing it. Plans for the 49-room, boutique hotel include retail space, a rooftop bar and a basement karaoke lounge with a speakeasy vibe. The property’s development comes on the heels of Lakeview’s recent renaissance, thanks in part to the Cubs’ World Series win. Locals and visitors alike are able to enjoy the neighborhood’s vibrant nightlife, inclusive of sports clubs, theater programming and a variety of restaurants.