Industry News Premier Hospitality

Criton Partners with 4Suites Digital Keys in Industry First

Aspire Executive Lounges, Swissport's global airport hospitality brand, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality, the world’s leading and award-winning membership body for hospitality professionals. Aspire Executive Lounges becomes the first business partner from the airport lounge hospitality sector to join the Institute of Hospitality. Aspire Executive Lounges, the fast-growing Swiss brand in the airport hospitality business, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the world’s leading membership body for professionals working and studying in the hospitality leisure and tourism industry. Aspire Executive Lounges is the first business from the airport lounge sector to become a member of IoH. The collaboration will foster an exchange of expertise and insights: IoH will benefit from Aspire's expertise in airport hospitality, while Aspire, by sharing its wealth of experience with IoH members, can extend its professional network to the hotel and catering sectors and hospitality management schools. “Our vision for Aspire Executive Lounges is clear and simple: We want to deliver a guest experience that is similar to what our guests are used to from their preferred hotels, meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of today’s travelers,” says David Collyer, Global Vice President of Executive Lounges at Swissport International AG. “We strive to deliver an unparalleled experience and set a benchmark that transcends our industry, redefining excellence across the hospitality sector. The Institute of Hospitality is a great network to exchange insights and experiences, and to learn from others in the hospitality sector, which will help us bring our vision to life.” Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality: “Our aspiration at the Institute of Hospitality has been to develop and grow our membership, the number of countries we operate in, and the number of hospitality sectors represented within our organization. With that in mind, it is a natural partnership for us to welcome Aspire into our family, and to learn from their teams, who serve travelers with passion and dedication. As two organizations with similar values, we look forward to collaborating in promoting high levels of excellence within our profession.” With over 30 years of experience, Aspire Executive Lounges is Europe’s largest brand in the airport lounges sector. In 2023, Swissport welcomed more than five million customers worldwide at over 69 lounges in 20 countries. The airport hospitality brand recently opened new lounges at Toronto City Airport in Canada, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Finland. Aspire Executive Lounges recently created a new lounge concept in partnership with the airline alliance oneworld. The first oneworld branded lounge was launched at Incheon Airport in Seoul, Korea, in December 2023. Aspire Executive Lounges is owned by Swissport International AG, the global leader in aviation services, serving airlines at 286 airports in 44 countries across 6 continents
Written by Amy

Criton makes first reseller agreement with pioneering digital key mobile access technology company, allowing guests to skip check in and unlock the door of their room

Criton, the UK’s first intuitive app builder for the hospitality industry, has announced at World Travel Market (Stand TT330) a partnership with 4SUITES, the cloud-based mobile access company. The partnership will be transformational for guests who will be able to bypass lengthy check-in queues via a digital key on their mobile device to unlock their hotel room. In an industry-first, hotels that create a digital guest portal via Criton’s unique content management system will be able to utilise this technology.

4SUITES will be Criton’s first reseller, enabling the company to embed their digital key into  Criton’s Progressive Web App (PWA) technology; another first for the sector. Contained within a product which will soon be an industry standard, PWA’s are accessed by clicking a unique URL rather than via the App Stores, making them quick and easy to use.

Today’s announcement will enable hoteliers who build their own branded guest portal with Criton, access to the 4SUITES dashboard.  This will allow guests complete control of all doors via their digital key, from their own device.  Guests access the “unlock” button within their downloaded app and from the 4Suites feature, they will see their room and all the other facilities (gym, pool, spa, etc.) they can open with their mobile digital key.

Julie Grieve, Founder & CEO of Criton, said: “Our founding purpose is to give independent hotels and small groups access to the technology, tools and capabilities that are usually only reserved for the big chains, allowing our customers to offer their guests an enhanced experience using the device they take everywhere, their mobile phone. We’re delighted to be working with 4SUITES and offer this technology to our clients.”

Jonathan Springford, Commercial Director of 4SUITES, said: “The travel industry is seeing huge value in providing their guests with easy access to their hotels – and this is where both Criton and 4Suites excel. We’re proud to be able to offer mobile key integration in web apps, a first in the industry.”

For more information on the integration with 4Suites, please visit: www.criton.com/product-tour/digital-door-key

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Amy