Rotana has entered an agreement with H2O Hospitality to introduce a smart check-in system at all of its hotels in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The system has been installed at 15 Rotana-branded properties in the emirate, including Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Arjaan and Centro hotels, covering 4,240 rooms.
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Talks are under way on extending the rollout beyond Abu Dhabi to other locations.
H2O also plans to use the project to support its expansion in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The check-in process combines advance registration with AI-based identity verification to cut waiting times at reception.
Guests are sent a guidance message through WhatsApp one to two days before arrival. They can complete the process in advance by submitting passport details and a facial image.
When guests reach the hotel on the day of arrival, their identity is verified through facial recognition as they approach the front desk.
Staff can then welcome them and issue room key cards without requiring passport presentation, paper forms or queueing.
Those who have not completed advance registration, or who arrive without a booking, can still check in by entering ID details and capturing a facial image on a tablet.
H2O provides the software platform linking the full process, from WhatsApp message distribution and advance check-in to hotel property management system integration, staff screens and tablets, and synchronisation of information with government systems once check-in is completed.
Rotana was founded in 1992 by Nasser Al Nowais and Selim El Zyr.
