Cashless Cokes

Linking up credit cards to vending machines is now spreading to hotels. The new Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida enables guests to use their hotel room key-card to purchase beverages from any of the beverage vending machines located throughout the hotel. Earlier this month, IBM and USA Technologies teamed to market a wireless hotel room key solution that could be used to make purchases from vending machines located inside the hotel. The solution will be expanded to allow hotel guests to access laundromat facilities or access a personal computer and other office equipment in the hotel business center. Pennsylvania-based USA Technologies says its research of cashless vending transactions shows that, on average, consumers’ purchase amounts are approximately 35% higher when using their credit card to make a purchase at a vending machine. Additionally, overall unit sales known as “throughputs” in the vending industry are increasing an average of 20% per location. IBM and USA Technologies say they are now marketing the new wireless hotel key payment card solution to hotels nationwide.