RFID Wristbands Replace Hotel Room Keys for Improved Guest Convenience

Valencia, Calif. (March 7, 2017) PDC, the global leader of innovative identification solutions, announced today that Margaritaville Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi has introduced PDC's Smart® Stretch RFID Wristband System to its resort, providing guests the convenience of keyless room entry. Opening its doors to the public in late June 2016, Margaritaville Resort Biloxi is one of the brand’s newest resorts and the first to implement PDC’s Smart® Stretch RFID wristbands.

Replacing standard RFID room access cards was a valuable, easy, and cost effective switch that didn’t impact existing infrastructure or the facility’s budget. Upon check-in, guests are given a PDC Smart® Stretch RFID wristband which serves as their room access key. These wristbands provide a well sought-after element of convenience for guests, over traditional RFID access cards. Guests are impressed with the fact that they no longer need to hassle with lost or misplaced keys upon returning from their day of fun, since their room key is now conveniently located around their wrist.

“RFID wristbands are simply more convenient,” said Robin Barber, Vice President of Leisure & Entertainment for PDC. “We all know the experience of fiddling for the hotel door card when your hands are full of luggage. Smart Band® provides quick access with just a slight wave of the wrist.”

The PDC Smart® Stretch RFID wristbands not only heighten security by preventing unauthorized room access, but play an important role for Margaritaville Biloxi as a quick, identifiable marker and business assessment tool. Resort staff can easily and quickly scan their surroundings and immediately detect if someone is in an unauthorized pool or water playground area.

“On sold out and low occupancy nights, the wristbands function as immediate identifiers as to how many guests are staying in our hotel and how many are transient, helping us gauge business volumes using data other than just the hotel’s occupancy,” said Cono Caranna, one of the resort’s developers.

Made of a comfortable material that stretches and adjusts to wrist size, the PDC Smart® Stretch RFID wristband features dual-sided custom full-color dye-sublimation> printing for maximum branding real-estate. Margaritaville Resort guests’ wrists are transformed into mini billboards and function as a great conversation starter as they venture out to other resorts, restaurants, and casinos in the area. For Margaritaville Biloxi, brand promotion doesn’t end once vacation is over because the wristbands function as a keepsake for kids who love to wear them home and relive and share the fun memories of their stay at Margaritaville Resort Biloxi with family and friends.

Smart® Stretch RFID wristbands are removable, re-usable, and waterproof, making them ideal for multi-day use or season pass programs. The eight-digit variable data or Tag UID laser engraving on the back of the RFID band supports guest registration as well as social media programs.

About PDC

With over 60 years of experience, PDC connects people, products, and technology through innovative ID systems that deliver superior customer experiences worldwide. PDC is a global leader and pacesetter in the development of wristbands, lanyards and RFID solutions. The company serves the leisure & entertainment, law enforcement, and animal identification industries. A pioneer of innovative technologies, PDC introduced the first bar code wristband system, first thermal printer wristband, first Smart Band® RFID wristband system, and the award-winning PDC Smart® Kiosk, among many other innovations.

Since its launch in 2000, PDC’s Smart Band® RFID wristband system has been used by leading amusement parks, water parks, resorts, and music festivals to deliver unique and convenient applications that help redefine the guest experience, while reaping bottom line benefits to the companies who use them. Applications include: cashless point-of-sale; cashless arcade and vending; social media integration; keyless hotel and locker access; electronic access control; photo management systems; and customer loyalty programs. Additional PDC RFID solutions include PDC Smart® Cards, key fobs, lanyards, and parking passes. For more information, visit www.waterparkRFID.com.

On Dec. 28, 2012, PDC was acquired by Brady Corporation, (NYSE:BRC) a world leader in identification solutions for premises, products, and people.

About Margaritaville Biloxi

Inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of singer, songwriter and author Jimmy Buffett, Margaritaville Resort Biloxi transports guests to paradise immediately upon arrival, offering unique experiences and coastal-luxe amenities centered around the vacation state-of-mind and island-inspired escapism that has become synonymous with the brand. For more information the resort, visit www.margaritavilleresortbiloxi.com.

RFID Wristbands Improve Guest Convenience with Cashless Purchasing and Access Control

Valencia, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2017) PDC, the global leader of innovative identification solutions, announced today the installation of its Smart Band® RFID Wristband System for electronic access control and cashless payments, at Great Wolf Lodge® Colorado Springs, the brand’s newest property located at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains, south of Denver. The indoor waterpark resort is the latest of eleven Great Wolf Lodge resorts to introduce PDC’s RFID wristband technology.

Designed to streamline guest transactions, Smart Band® supplements traditional forms of payment and access credentials that are usually carried in a wallet, purse, or pocket. Upon check in, Great Wolf Lodge guests are issued a non-transferable, waterproof PDC Smart Band®, with a securely sealed RFID chip inside that safely collects and transfers data when scanned by a reader in the park. Each chip is programmed with a unique alpha-numeric code that is assigned to a guest portfolio, so the bands are impossible to duplicate.

“Personal data is never compromised with Smart Band®. When scanned by a Great Wolf Lodge reader, each wristband’s unique ID number simply verifies access or purchase authority that has been assigned to that guest,” said Robin Barber, Vice President of Leisure & Entertainment for PDC. “Once the guest leaves, that unique ID becomes void.”

Smart Band’s contactless interface provides significant advantages for hotel room access, compared to standard magnetic strip key card door locks, which can collect dirt and debris, impacting performance. Since Smart Band® is securely fastened around the wrist, guests no longer need to worry about forgotten, lost, or misplaced key cards.

Functioning as a convenient “wrist wallet,” Smart Band® enables Great Wolf Lodge guests to make convenient instant purchases using their RFID wristband. “PDC’s Smart Band® RFID wristband technology has positively impacted the guest experience, and is extremely well-received by guests and staff alike,” noted Rajiv Castellino, CIO for Great Wolf Resorts. “Guests no longer need to worry about carrying cash, credit cards, and room keys throughout the park, since the wristbands function as a one-stop shop. The last thing a guest wants is to end up with soggy or lost money and the Smart Band® RFID wristband technology solves this common concern.”

Smart Band® is fully customizable, and offered in a wide variety of colors and material options including plastic, silicone, woven fabric, and thermal print-on-demand styles. Its nontransferable single-use closures and re-wearable styles are ideal for either single-day use or season pass programs.

In addition to its newest Colorado Springs resort, Great Wolf Resorts uses PDC’s Smart Band® RFID Wristband System at resorts in: Wisconsin Dells, WI.; Poconos, PA.; Niagara Falls, ONT., Canada; Mason, OH.; Grapevine, TX.; Grand Mound, WA.; Williamsburg, VA.; Concord, NC.; New England, MA., and Garden Grove, CA.

About PDC

With over 60 years of experience, PDC connects people, products, and technology through innovative ID systems that deliver superior customer experiences worldwide. PDC is a global leader and pacesetter in the development of wristbands, lanyards and RFID solutions. The company serves the leisure & entertainment, law enforcement, and animal identification industries. A pioneer of innovative technologies, PDC introduced the first bar code wristband system, first thermal printer wristband, first Smart Band® RFID wristband system, and the award-winning PDC Smart® Kiosk, among many other innovations.

Since its launch in 2000, PDC’s Smart Band® RFID wristband system has been used by leading amusement parks, water parks, resorts, and music festivals to deliver unique and convenient applications that help redefine the guest experience, while reaping bottom line benefits to the companies who use them. Applications include: cashless point-of-sale; cashless arcade and vending; social media integration; keyless hotel and locker access; electronic access control; photo management systems; and customer loyalty programs. Additional PDC RFID solutions include PDC Smart® Cards, key fobs, lanyards, and parking passes. For more information, visit www.waterparkRFID.com.

On Dec. 28, 2012, PDC was acquired by Brady Corporation, (NYSE:BRC) a world leader in identification solutions for premises, products, and people.

About Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc., Madison, Wis., is North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, and through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge brand. Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; Concord, N.C.; Fitchburg, Mass; Garden Grove Calif., Colorado Springs, Colo., Minneapolis, Minn. (opening in late 2017/early 2018), and LaGrange, Ga (opening in 2018). Additional information may be found online at http://www.greatwolf.com

Valencia, Calif. (June 7, 2016) PDC, the global leader of innovative identification solutions, announced today the installation of its Smart Band^® RFID Wristband System at Great Wolf Lodge®  Southern California, the brand’s newest property located in Garden Grove, for electronic access control and cashless payments. The indoor waterpark resort is the latest of nine Great Wolf Lodge resorts to introduce PDC’s RFID wristband technology.

Designed to streamline guest transactions, Smart Band^® replaces traditional forms of payment and access credentials that are usually carried in a wallet, purse, or pocket. Upon check in, Great Wolf Lodge guests are issued a non-transferable, waterproof PDC Smart Band^®, with a securely sealed RFID chip inside that safely collects and transfers data when scanned by a reader in the park. Each chip is programmed with a unique alpha-numeric code that is assigned to a guest portfolio, so the bands are impossible to duplicate.

Functioning as a convenient “wrist wallet,” Smart Band^® enables Great Wolf Lodge guests to make instant purchases using their RFID wristband. “RFID payment transactions take about half the time compared to using credit cards or cash, reducing lines and increasing impulse purchases.  Since guests don’t have to dig for change, they are more inclined to make some smaller purchases they might normally pass on,” said Robin Barber, Vice President of Leisure & Entertainment for PDC.

For hotel room access, Smart Band’s contactless interface provides significant advantages over standard magnetic stripe key card door locks, which can collect dirt and debris that impact performance. Since Smart Band^® is safely fastened around the wrist; guests no longer hassle with forgotten, lost, or misplaced key cards. 

“With Smart Band^® RFID wristband technology, guests no longer have to worry about carrying cash, credit cards, and room keys,” noted Rajiv Castellino, Chief Information Officer, Great Wolf Resorts. “With a simple wave of the wrist, guests can access their suite, and make dining and souvenir purchases throughout the resort.  Since introducing the Smart Band® RFID wristband technology to our resort in the Poconos Mountains in 2005, and several others since that time, our resort guests throughout the country have enjoyed the convenience and service this technology provides.”

Smart Band^® can be completely customized and is offered in a wide variety of colors and material options including plastic, silicone, woven fabric, and thermal print-on-demand styles. Smart Band^® is available with nontransferable single-use closures, and in re-wearable styles for single-day use or for a season pass program.

In addition to its Anaheim resort, Great Wolf Resorts uses PDC’s Smart Band^® RFID Wristband System at resorts in: Poconos, PA; Niagara Falls, ONT., Canada, Mason, OH; Grapevine, TX; Grand Mound, WA; Williamsburg, VA; Concord, NC, and New England, MA.

About PDC

With 60 years of experience, PDC connects people, products, and technology through innovative ID systems that deliver superior customer experiences worldwide. PDC is a global leader and pacesetter in the development of wristbands, lanyards and RFID solutions. The company serves the leisure & entertainment, law enforcement, and animal identification industries. A pioneer of innovative technologies, PDC introduced the first bar code wristband system, first thermal printer wristband, first Smart Band^® RFID wristband system, and the award-winning PDC Smart^® Kiosk, among many other innovations.

Since its launch in 2000, PDC’s Smart Band^® RFID wristband system has been used by leading amusement parks, water parks, resorts, and music festivals to deliver unique and convenient applications that help redefine the guest experience, while reaping bottom line benefits to the companies who use them. Applications include: cashless point-of-sale; cashless arcade and vending; social media integration; keyless hotel and locker access; electronic access control; photo management systems; and customer loyalty programs. Additional PDC RFID solutions include PDC Smart^® Cards, key fobs, lanyards and parking passes. For more information, visit www.waterparkRFID.com.

On Dec. 28, 2012, PDC was acquired by Brady Corporation, (NYSE:BRC) a world leader in identification solutions for premises, products, and people.

About Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. is North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts and through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge^® brand. Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; the Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; Concord, N.C.; Fitchburg, Mass; and Garden Grove Calif., and Colorado Springs, CO (opening late 2016). Additional information may be found online at http://www.greatwolf.com

RFID Wristbands Replace Hotel Room Keys for an Enhanced Guest Experience

Valencia, CA (October 27, 2015) PDC, a global leader of innovative identification solutions, announced today the Villa del Palmar Resort at the Islands of Loreto in Baja California Sur, Mexico, has installed its Smart Band® RFID Wristband System for keyless hotel room entry.

With the help of PDC’s RFID wristband technology, guests at Villa del Palmar Resort are able to quickly check-in on the resort’s web site and bypass waiting in line at the front desk. After online check-in is complete, the guest’s name and room information are linked to a PDC Smart Band® RFID Wristband. Upon arrival, a bellboy presents the guest with their pre-programmed wristband – in place of a key card – providing instant access to their hotel room. Since Smart Band® is non-transferable and waterproof, guests can enjoy the beach and resort amenities without the worry of misplacing their room key while relaxing on vacation.

“PDC’s Smart Band® RFID Wristband System has helped us boost guest satisfaction and provide a ‘wow factor’ that separates us from other resorts in the area,” said Owen Perry, co-owner and president of Villa Group. “The bright and eye-catching custom design we choose for the wristbands provide us with free advertising, as our guests often leave the resort during their vacation to visit the beach, local attractions, and to shop.”

“The wristband access to our room was convenient and appreciated,” said Villa del Palmar guest Stanley Jones. “Being met at the door upon arrival and walked directly to our room was the perfect way to begin our vacation.”

Smart Band® is available in a wide variety of styles and materials and can be completely customized to include a company logo, slogan, dates, and contact information to boost brand awareness and promote special events. In addition to keyless entry, the Smart Band® can be programmed to perform a wide variety of beneficial applications including cashless transactions and social media integration. For more information on PDC’s Smart Band RFID Wristband System, call 866.403.6526 or visit www.PDCsolutions.com.

About PDC

With more than 55 years of experience, PDC connects people, products, and technology through innovative ID systems that deliver superior customer experiences worldwide. PDC is a global leader and pacesetter in the development of wristbands, lanyards and RFID solutions. The company serves the leisure & entertainment, law enforcement, and animal identification industries. A pioneer of innovative technologies, PDC introduced the first bar code wristband system, first thermal printer wristband, first Smart Band® RFID wristband system, and the award-winning PDC Smart® Kiosk, among many other innovations.

Since its launch in 2000, PDC’s Smart Band® RFID wristband system has been used by leading amusement parks, water parks, resorts, and music festivals to deliver unique and convenient applications that help redefine the guest experience, while reaping bottom line benefits to the companies who use them. Applications include: cashless point-of-sale; cashless arcade and vending; social media integration; keyless hotel and locker access; electronic access control; photo management systems; and customer loyalty programs. Additional PDC RFID Solutions include PDC Smart® Cards, Key Fobs, Lanyards, Labels, and Parking Passes.

On Dec. 28, 2012, PDC was acquired by Brady Corporation, (NYSE:BRC) a world leader in identification solutions for people, products and places.

About Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto: Baja’s First Million Star Resort

Villa del Palmar at The Islands of Loreto is a luxury destination resort on the Sea of Cortez, off the eastern coast of the Baja peninsula overlooking Danzante Island (one of five in the region). Flanked by the rugged Sierra de la Giganta range, the Villa del Palmar is the first and only resort to occupy one of the Gulf of California's last virgin coastlines. The resort features 181 new, spacious, beautifully appointed Deluxe Ocean View, one, two and three bedroom Suites with terraces and stunning ocean and mountain views, three restaurants offering gourmet dining, an attentive English-speaking staff, five swimming pools, a 39,000 square-foot Sabila Spa and Wellness Center, two tennis courts, beautiful beaches, a private beachfront Danzante Bungalow and a mild and warm climate year-round. The 7,400-yard Rees Jones-designed Danzante Bay golf course opening October 2015 will offer a challenging, yet friendly course that works with the natural beauty and serenity of the surrounding environment.

Guests can enjoy PADI-certified SCUBA diving lessons and snorkeling tours in the protected indigo waters that explorer Jacques Cousteau once dubbed the “Aquarium of the World.” Outdoor adventurers can also experience tours of the nearby Coronado, Danzante and Del Carmen Islands atop an inflatable APEX boat, as well as swimming, world-class fishing aboard the “Mad Dash” tournament boat, paddle boarding, kayaking, whale watching and mountain biking. With complimentary shuttle service, guests can explore the historic town at the Islands of Loreto and visit the 1697 mission that made the town famous. The area is also known for its wildlife, including the 900 species of fish off the coast and in an area that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second largest National Marine Park. Hotel perks include a spa and fitness center, massages, salsa dance lessons and movie nights for children. Travelers can take a short flight from LAX on Alaska Airlines or from Calgary, Canada aboard WestJet, Canada’s most-preferred airline, to the Islands of Loreto.

The resort is also currently named the 16th best resort in Mexico by Trip Advisor and a nominee for “Mexico’s Leading Beach Resort” in the 2015 World Travel Awards. Voting is available though August 9, and can be cast here: http://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote-for-villa-del-palmar-at-the-islands-of-loreto-2015.

For additional information on events, amenities, or availability call 800.790.4187 or visit www.villadelpalmarloreto.com. Stay up-to-date on the latest happenings by finding us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/villadelpalmarattheislandsofloreto) or Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter as @VilladelPalmarL