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Apple Wallet’s hotel keycard support is now live, starting at Hyatt hotels
Apple's Wallet's hotel feature is a little late checking in.
More hotels will let you watch your own Netflix
StayCast, a Google Chromecast-powered service for hotels, could fulfill your dream of being able to watch whatever you want to as a guest -- especially now that it's become much easier to get. AT&T has just announced that hotels can get DirectTV HD systems pre-loaded with StayCast, so make sure to look around or ask if you can stream your own stuff if the property offers the carrier's satellite TV service. All you have to do is download the service's Hotel Cast app for iOS and Android and connect to the hotel's WiFi to start streaming your own Netflix, Hulu and other Cast-enabled apps.
Hyatt and Starwood hotel chains suffer credit card breach
HEI, the holding company behind a wide number of hotel brands including Marriott and (wait for it) Hyatt, has announced that it suffered a data breach via its payment tools. According to the outfit, hackers installed malware inside payment processing systems that harvested data at point-of-sale kiosks at 19 locations in the US. Specifically, those who made card purchases at specific restaurants, gift shops or spas between March 2015 and July 2016. In total, around 8,000 transactions are likely to be affected, with people's credit card numbers and addresses potentially at risk.
Hyatt admits 250 hotels were hit by card-skimming malware
Hyatt has confirmed that the malware it spotted in its systems last year was capable of collecting credit card names, numbers, expiration dates and verification codes. In its latest post about the issue, the hotel chain said it spotted signs of unauthorized access to its customers' card data. Most of the cards affected were used to pay at restaurants within Hyatt hotels from August 13th to December 8th, 2015, though some locations had been affected since July 30th.
Hyatt is the latest hotel chain to spot malware on its systems
Unfortunately, Hilton isn't the only hotel chain grappling with malware on sensitive computers. Hyatt is now warning travelers that it recently spotted malware on its payment processing systems (on November 30th, the company tells us). It's still investigating what happened and has precious few details, but it maintains that you can "feel confident" using your card. Unfortunately, that's not much help if you recently stayed at a Hyatt. How long does it think the malware was hanging around? And how much damage did the rogue code do? Hyatt tells that it'll share more when the investigation is over. Until it offers the full scoop, your best option is to watch your financial statements for any shady behavior.[Image credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel]
Guests at the Hyatt Regency in Hong Kong can use this smartphone for free
I've found fruit baskets, chocolates, even a bottle of Honig wine in my hotel rooms over the years. Never a smartphone -- until today. Last month, the Hyatt Regency Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong installed handsets in each of its 381 rooms. Guests can use the phone throughout a stay, with unlimited data (and tethering!), and calls to Hong Kong, the US, UK, Australia, China and Singapore included for free. It comes with Facebook, Instagram, Skype and a handful of travel applications pre-installed, and once you type in your Google credentials, you can add any other apps you want. Then, when you're ready to check out, simply tap the "clear data" button to wipe your personal info and return the device to its original state, so it's ready for the next guest.
Long-standing fountain snags Apple's San Francisco store plans
Two weeks ago, we were greeted with the news that Apple was planning to move the Apple Store at the corner of Stockton and Ellis Streets in San Francisco to a new flagship facility to be located in the city's Union Square retail area. Now things aren't as rosy for the future of the new store, with critics being upset with the proposed design of the structure and the fate of a fountain behind the location. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee has said that he would be taking another look at the plans to see if the fountain "would or would not complement Apple's proposal for a raised narrow plaza between its store and the Grand Hyatt," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Other complaints include an 80-foot-long blank wall facing Stockton Street, which apparently caught flak from city officials during the initial discussions about the plans. Apple was, according to the Chronicle, "very receptive" to those concerns. The project is by no means in "shovel ready" condition; it also needs to pass muster by the city's planning and historic preservation commissions. The 1970s vintage fountain -- seen in the image at top -- is on property owned by the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, which has noted that "it's too premature" to address whether Apple's proposal will require changes.
Onity rolling out safeguards against hotel keycard hacks, may fix some locks outright
Mozilla staffer Cody Brocious' discovery of a quick (if imperfect) hack for hotel door locks raised alarms at the prospect that thieves could slip into rooms moments after plugging in a rogue device. The keycard system's creator, Onity, suggested in August that any solutions beyond capping the data port would cost a fee, and there wasn't a definite roadmap in place. The firm has more lately been looking to make things right. Officially, it's planning to give every affected hotel the caps over the "next several weeks," free as promised. Forbes understands that Onity may be going the extra mile, however. Reportedly leaked memos from Hyatt, the InterContinental Hotels Group and Marriott have the lock firm charging $11 per door to ship boards with hack-resistant firmware, but refunding that price as soon as it receives old boards, effectively offering a permanent fix for free. Some hotels outside of North America may not have to take even that last step. The only gotcha is a supposed requirement that hotels agree locks aren't hack-proof -- in short, please don't sue us. We've reached out for confirmation of this more extensive solution, but any truth to it would put the threat of keycard system hacks on ice for at least awhile.
Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and Starwood Hotels reward your loyalty with free WiFi
Free WiFi is practically a given at coffee shops and motels, yet lots of luxury hotels hit you with an extra $10 - $15 a day to ride their waves of wireless internet. Good news is, well-heeled world travelers won't be paying those fees much longer, because several high-end hotel chains are now giving temporary tenants complimentary wireless internet. Loyalty program members for Hilton, Hyatt, and Starwood Hotels get online gratis if they have Gold or Platinum status, while Marriott lets all who sign up for its rewards program get WiFi for free. Seems ridiculous that some folks still pay extra for internet when a room runs several hundred dollars, but a little free websurfing is better than none. We can only hope that towel retention technology will provide a sufficient boost to their bottom lines to eventually allow access for all.
Apple profiles iPads used in big business
Apple has published profiles of four large businesses that use iPads in their daily functioning. The first, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, explains how their staff has replaced older tools with the iPad. "I don't carry a calculator. I used to subscribe to all the journals: the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times. That's all disappeared. It's all on iPad." Additionally, guests who check into Hyatt's Andaz brand hotels are greeted with iPad-wielding staff who let them swipe a credit card, check in, and receive a card key that was encoded by the iPad itself. Since the iPad is so portable, there's no need for guests to stand in line at the desk. Also featured is RehabCare, a St. Louis-based medical rehab facility. They've eliminated a lot of paper from their process by introducing the iPad, using it to enter patient data, track records, and more. There are two other businesses featured, and each has an accompanying overview video. It's good to see Apple pushing the iPad to the enterprise market.
Hyatt Regency Woodfield home to Sharp HDTVs, SuiteLinq HD programming
Headed to Schaumburg, Illinois to visit those in-laws, are you? You're in luck. Hyatt Regency Woodfield has just announced that every last one of its 470 guest rooms will be locked and loaded (but unlocked prior to your arrival) with a 32- or 37-inch Sharp LCD HDTV, not to mention a copious amount of HD content flowing from the SuiteLinq in-room digital entertainment solution. Both linear channels and video-on-demand material will be delivered in SD and HD, and it appears that everything's in place for enjoyment as we speak. So, are your reservations in order?
Wii to be demonstrated in South Korea next month
To drum up some more buzz for their console in South Korea, Nintendo has announced it will have a press conference lined up so folks can get their hands on the Wii. It's all going down on April 14th at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul. We're not sure if this thing will be invite-only or not, so Seoul Wii Fanboy readers, here's a protip: use the alley entrance on the northwest side.Many are still looking to Children's Day as being the time when Nintendo will officially release the console to the region. No word from Nintendo, however, so we'll just have to wait and see if they say more come April 14th.
Hyatt Place gearing up to open 86 new hotels, bring HD to every one
Hyatt Hotels have long since been a safe haven for HD junkies on the run, so those who find themselves living out of a suitcase will certainly appreciate this news. Reportedly, a total of 86 Hyatt Place hotels have been approved for construction, and you'll find these new projects going up in a smorgasbord of American and Canadian cities. As expected, every single new Hyatt Place will offer guests complimentary WiFi, an eight-foot sleeper sofa, a 42-inch HDTV, at least 11 channels of HD programming, the firm's own Plug Panel and access to games on NFL Sunday Ticket and NBA League Pass to boot. For a list of cities where these gems are headed, be sure and give the read link a visit.
Hotels being upgraded / converted en masse, HDTVs included
Those used to seeing an AmeriSuites hotel in the Crosswoods area of Columbus, Ohio may be wondering where it went. Reportedly, the hotel has been converted into a Hyatt Place in an attempt to "to reach a younger audience," and it's far from being the only one. Hyatt Corp. has been on somewhat of an upgrading rampage as it converts and upgrades a number of hotels to cater to the demanding traveler, spending around "$32,000 per room on Hyatt Place conversions." That cash is purportedly being used in order to add such niceties as wireless internet, large sofa sleepers, wet bars and most importantly, 42-inch flat-panel TVs with 11 channels of high-definition programming. Talk about home away from home.
Hyatt's Plug Panel opens new world of connectivity to 42-inch HDTV
Hyatt Place has always had a soft spot for the traveling HD junkie, and it's reiterating said point by introducing a new Plug Panel in all of its rooms. Reportedly, the company is aiming to equip each guest room with a 42-inch HDTV by the year's end, and with that will come an integrated panel that allows patrons to plug in a myriad devices for big-screen interaction. The panel will readily accept a component input (with stereo audio), VGA / HDMI cables, audio via a 3.5-millimeter jack and the obligatory composite input. Additionally, each plate will be equipped with twin AC outlets, and just in case you'd overlooked it, each set will be able to receive 11 high-definition options. Looks like your travel plans just got a lot firmer, eh?
Hyatt Place offering the solution for traveling football fans
Traveling during football season? Hyatt Place's Sports Package has everything for us sports and high-def fans need to enjoy college / pro football. They allow guests to check in earlier and stay later, give 'em a bigger room with an eight-foot sectional couch, a choice of either the college or pro DirecTV package, and even a pizza with two 20 oz. beverages (read: non-alcoholic). The package is available now through December 30, 2007 - bowl games and the Play-Offs are on national stations after that anyways - at 70 Hyatt Places nationwide.
T-Mobile offers free wi-fi with latest update
Reluctant to update your PSP to the latest firmware? You may want to reconsider. The latest firmware offers PSP users the ability to access T-Mobile's wi-fi service for free. T-Mobile HotSpots can be found at over 8,000 locations across the US, and can be found in Starbucks, Borders, FedEx Kinko's, Hyatt, Red Roof Inns, Sofitel and Novotel Hotels, and select airports. Now, you'll be able to frag friends through Infrastructure almost anywhere in the US ... for free! How sweet is that? I went to a Starbucks to test it out, and found the process is quite easy: Bring your PSP® system to a location that provides a T-Mobile HotSpot. (Refer to the T-Mobile HotSpot U.S. Location Map.) Select (Network Settings) under (Settings). Select [Infrastructure Mode]. Select [New Connection]. Select [Use Wireless Hotspot]. Select the T-Mobile HotSpot icon. If you have an existing T-Mobile HotSpot account, select [Enter User Credentials].Enter your user ID and password, and then press the right button.orIf you do not have an account, select [Use Promotional Access] to sign up for a complimentary six-month T-Mobile HotSpot account. (To qualify for this promotional access, you must authenticate your PSP® system to the T-Mobile HotSpot network prior to March 28, 2008.) Check the contents of the settings list. Save the settings. [Via PlayStation]