Securitas Electronic Security Provides Biometric Upgrade to Upscale Hotel
SES earned a 2021 SSI Installation of the Year runner-up honor for providing the 42-story Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay a security solution that could match the hotel’s modern- and technology-forward aesthetic.
Miami’s Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay is a luxurious condominium complex that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Naturally, such an upscale property requires high-end technology.
However, the Grand’s fingerprint solution proved to be inadequate and exposed vulnerabilities in the property’s access management and security protocols.
The Grand turned to Securitas Electronic Security (SES) to revamp and enhance its overall security program, management and operations.
“After a thorough risk analysis and consideration of the hotel’s goals, SES recommended a highly integrated touchless biometric solution to manage access for the hundreds of daily visitors and guests in an efficient, safe and healthy manner,” explains Nelson Barreto, SES SVP enterprise sales. “The Grand instantly loved the concept of touchless biometrics and the ability for the technology to offer the sophistication they were looking for, the ease of operations, and the heightened health and safety of a touchless solution for guests.”
To deliver the Grand’s desire for a sleek, best-in-class solution, SES collaborated with IDEMIA, Boon Edam and LenelS2. These vendors were chosen by SES’ Technology Evaluation Committee, which fully researches, tests and vets any technology before recommending a solution to clients.
The IDEMIA MorphoWave was utilized to provide frictionless access control throughout the property. Through a wave of the hand, IDEMIA sensors instantly capture an individual’s identity to allow for a secure and accurate access request. Only the person who is enrolled and was given the rights to access a specific door will be granted that access.
Close to 60 IDEMIA MorphoWave readers were installed throughout the hotel’s lobby, entryways, elevator system and common areas, including the pool and fitness room.
Integrated with the MorphoWave readers were Boon Edam Speedlane Swing optical turnstiles with waist-high swinging glass barriers. The readers were placed in special pedestals in front of each turnstile lane and integrated directly with the turnstiles.
“When visitors enter the building to access an elevator, they are presented with the sophisticated biometric technology and optical turnstile system. Visitors are granted access by first scanning their hand through the seamless MorphoWave biometric reader, which then prompts the Boon Edam turnstiles to allow entry. The integrated technology also automatically selects which floor a visitor is permitted access to, granting them access only to a specific floor through the buttonless elevators,” says Barreto.
The LenelS2 OnGuard system was chosen as the general access control system throughout the entire hotel, for badging services and integrated with the IDEMIA MorphoWave readers, the Boon Edam turnstiles, and the buildings’ elevators. LenelS2’s Blue Diamond readers were also utilized to enable the use of regular physical credentials, smart cards or mobile credentials through the BlueDiamond mobile app.
Barreto says the BlueDiamond readers are used as an alternative to the IDEMIA readers in case necessary or in situations where individuals elect not to, or can’t, use the biometric solution.
“The Grand has continued to be pleased with the sophisticated security solutions we’ve implemented,” notes Barreto. “As we continue to service this site, we’ve been collaborating on continued technology innovations to come, including more biometric and sophisticated access solutions for various other access points throughout the complex.”
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About the Author
Steve Karantzoulidis, Web/Senior Editor
Steven A. Karantzoulidis is the Web Editor for Security Sales & Integration. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Communication and has a background in Film, A/V and Social Media.
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