VingCard 'Signature' and Elsafe Chosen Preferred Security Solutions for Courtyard by Marriott in Eur

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. October 14, 2008

NORWAY, December 6, 2005. VingCard Elsafe has been chosen by Marriott International to provide its NEW Signature by VingCard electronic-locking system and Elsafe in-room safes for its expanding Courtyard by Marriott brand throughout Europe. Courtyard by Marriott currently includes more than 668 hotels around the globe.

Courtyard stands as Marriott's most widely distributed brand and ranks as one of the largest lodging brands in the world, with hotels located in Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Australia, North America, and Latin America. The mid-tier lodging leader is widely recognized for providing quality accommodations, friendly service, and carefully selected features and amenities to guests worldwide.

"Based on years of proven reliability and service with the VingCard Elsafe group and its security products and services, we have selected VingCard Elsafe to provide our Courtyard hotels with the most sophisticated security solutions available," said Stephane Masson, VP of international procurement for Marriott. "As we expand the Courtyard by Marriott brand in Europe, both Signature by VingCard and Elsafe in-room safes provide us with the best-of breed technology and the highest level of security available today."

Redefining a Brand, Redesigning Security

Masson said the Courtyard by Marriott brand in Europe recently launched a major redesign effort for its lobby and guestroom areas in order to deliver on the future needs of its core customer, the business traveler. Likewise VingCard redesigned the look of its electronic door locks so that the door hardware blends into the hotel environment and door handles mirror the hotel's decor. Both designs are hailed as being open, functional, and appealing.

"Courtyard selectively pursues strategic and differentiating improvements to preserve and expand its marketplace leadership position," Masson said. "As one of the leading hotel brands in the world, continuity among our guest-service standards is top of mind, and that includes security. Our goal is to provide our guests with the comfort, convenience, and security of home. The design flexibility of the Signature by VingCard electronic lock provides the security required in an aesthetically pleasing product, which is perfect for the new design concepts."

Pascal Metivier, President of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, said that both the Signature electronic lock and the Elsafe in-room safes provide the highest levels of safety, security, satisfaction and convenience for Courtyard by Marriott guests while enhancing and protecting asset value for owners.

"Courtyard by Marriott chose Signature by VingCard because it's aesthetically pleasing, intuitively functional and extremely secure," Metivier said. "It offers minimal outside hardware, a large choice of designer handles, upgradeable technology, multiple design options, and flexible configurations."

With the Signature by VingCard electronic lock, only the bezel for card insertion and the designer handle are visible on the outside of the guestroom door, he said. This minimal approach improves the look of the hallway and the guests' first impressions. The Signature by VingCard series lock integrates effectively with every design style, giving the corridor a seamless appearance.

"Elsafe in-room safes were selected by Courtyard because they are the first in-room safes on the hospitality market that have achieved the prestigious Underwriters Laboratories' certification for safety," Metivier said. "Our in-room safes not only give hoteliers the added assurance that their guests' valuables are receiving the maximum level of protection possible, but it also protect a property's valuable reputation while keeping it protected from liability claims."

In order to achieve the UL-listing, Elsafe in-room safes had to endure rigorous testing procedures. In the physical break-in test, a team of experienced testers were given free reign with a selection of tools to try and physically compromise the safe within a set period of time. The endurance test consisted of more than 6,000 openings and closings, as well as 50 battery changes. With an average battery life of more than 2 years, this represents approximately 100 years of normal hotel use. In the dramatic jarring demonstration, the safes were actually hit with a steel ball to see if the physical structure and electronic components could withstand such excessive force.

"Elsafe in-room safe offers our Courtyard hotels the highest security, the most advanced features and the most reliable service in the industry," Masson said. "Not only did Elsafe provide us with a practical selection of operational features, such as an optional outlet located inside the safe so that our guests can charge their electronics, such as laptops and camcorders, but they provide us with revolutionary physical security that rivals anything in the hospitality market."

Metivier said VingCard Elsafe is proud to continue and expand its relationship with Marriott, saying: "The level of quality that Marriott provides its guests is exceptional, and we are pleased to be able to provide a level of security and design to match."