CEO, TJ Person, featured in Dallas Morning News.
DALLAS (February 16, 2017) – If there’s one thing we know about millennials, it’s that they always have a finger on the pulse of the next big technology trend. From the Apple Watch to hoverboards to 3D printers – they follow the latest and greatest.
As the largest living generation in the nation, they have become society’s leading influencers. Known as “alpha-influencers,” it’s common for millennials to turn to their social circles for guidance regarding purchasing decisions. They often do this through social media, consuming and responding to information on these channels more frequently than ever before. Through these platforms, their likes and dislikes can be shared with a vast network, often hundreds or thousands of people who are actually listening and basing their purchase choices from peer recommendations and reviews.
Brands of all kinds – including hotels – have recognized the necessity for attracting millennials as customers and are trying every possible angle for success in their marketing campaigns. What they’ve found is millennials are most comfortable accessing resources and managing their lives through their mobile devices. That’s why mobile key apps, like OpenKey, make the cut when it comes to acquiring and maintaining the coveted millennial loyalty.
Statistics show that millennials spend more on travel than any other group – in fact, the United Nations reports that 200,000 million millennial tourists generate more than $180 billion in annual tourism revenue.
According to an infographic from HospitalityNet.org, nearly half book their entire trip using apps. Time is incredibly valuable, and millennial want ease and convenience – they don’t want to wait in line at the front desk and deal with staff. They don’t want to keep track of hard copy room keys, let alone awkwardly fumble with them when they get back to the hotel late at night. The same goes for papers with check-in/out dates and other information.
That’s where mobile keys or smart keys such as OpenKey come in. Imagine walking into your hotel after a long day of traveling, and a mobile notification pops up with your room number, offering instant access to a comfortable bed and much-needed shower. By utilizing the one thing most people always have on them at all times – their smartphone – “keyless entry” allows guests to bypass the front desk, send an ETA to staff before they arrive, and book a variety of hotel amenities directly from the app.
However, you don’t have to be a millennial to get excited about mobile keys. The keyless revolution appeals to anyone who seeks a new level of convenience. Using your smartphone as a room key is just one more thing you can do to immerse yourself in the latest tech experience.
OpenKey has become the industry standard for universal mobile key in hotels and falls in line with other technological advancements we’re seeing across industries. It creates a modern, simple and innovative environment for hotels, allowing them to operate more efficiently, provide a memorable guest experience, and boost customer loyalty. Not only that, but eliminating expensive RFID key cards reduces costs and unnecessary waste.
TJ Person is CEO and founder of OpenKey the leader in universal mobile key access technology. With more than 17 years of experience in technology, business management and marketing, TJ is known for both his strategic leadership and marketing innovator capabilities. Under his leadership, OpenKey has partnered with the largest global BLE lock companies and successfully raised millions in strategic investments from some of the largest hotel management and ownership companies.
