Starwood Preferred Guest, the loyalty programme from international hotel chain Starwood Hotels, is using NFC to help promote downloads of its newly launched Chinese Android app.

STARWOOD: A smart poster allows guests to download the hotel chain's loyalty app with a tap of their NFC phone. Click to enlarge.

Visitors can now download the SPG mobile app by tapping posters, housing Smartrac NFC tags, at the front desk of 121 hotels across China.

The app lets users access information such as their Starpoint balance, upcoming and past stays, details of places to visit nearby as well as dining options and information on other hotel amenities.

"Nothing is more personal than a guest's mobile device and speaking the same language is the first step in giving our guests the best experience," says Qian Jin, president of Greater China Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

"SPG's growth in China is unprecedented with a new member joining SPG every 20 seconds here. We know this new app will help our Chinese members make the best travel decisions from inspiration through their stay and beyond."

Janice Chan, senior director of digital marketing at Starwood, told NFC World: "We recognise that Android phones have NFC and we wanted to push awareness of the technology and make it easier for our customers to download the app.

"We feel it adds an edge of innovation. NFC is relatively new in China, and we wanted to be the first brand to offer it nationwide. Starwood aims to be the most innovative, not only in service, but also digitally."