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New Washable RFID Chips Track Hotel Towels and Bathrobes
• Clay Dillow via PopSci.comRadio frequency identification (RFID) tech has been employed in some pretty noble causes, like tracking timber to curb illegal logging and tagging animals for study and to better manage their habitats. And now that RFID has criminal-types like poachers and illegal loggers looking over their shoulders, it’s now being deployed against a far more prevalent kind of criminal: you. Three hotels in Honolulu, Miami, and NYC have employed a new kind of washable RFID tag to keep you from stealing their towels, linens, and plush terrycloth bathrobes. It almost takes the fun out of travel.
Linen Technology Tracking saw a problem and devised a novel technological solution. Their washable RFIDs don’t just reduce theft, they say, but also help them keep track of their linens in real time so they know when they need to order more.
But let’s face it, the main issue here is theft. The Honolulu hotel (the hotels have asked to remain anonymous, just to keep you guessing) says it was taking a bath to the tune of 4,000 pool towels per month, a number that it has reduced to just 750 (a savings of $16,000 per month). And that’s just at the pool.
1 Comments in Response to New Washable RFID Chips Track Hotel Towels and Bathrobes
Personally I don’t
see how RFIDs are profitable for hotels. Yes the cost of cotton & towels is
on the rise, and hotels spend thousands each year on towels. But I'd like to
know how the RFIDs are actually used by hotels and how they saved that hotel over $15,000. I just can’t see hotels tracking down
people to get ahttp://www.nathosp.com/prod_detail_list/hotel_towels">towel>
back. I work for a hotel supplier and
the cost of a towel doesn't seem high enough to make RFIDs profitable. Perhaps
hotels who are worried about theft could just state they have RFID tags - but
not actually use them - most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
The goal is to reduce theft, and if people believe there are RFIDs then they
may pass next time they consider stealing a towel.