First In The World Dual-Frequency Lift Access Installed At Boyne Resorts
Axess Offers First In The World Dual-Frequency Lift Access At Boyne Resorts. Skiers to Experience New Level of Convenience and Connection with Long-Range and Dual-Frequency RFID Technology.
“The long-range and dual-frequency capabilities are the future of RFID technology and the leap we have been working toward for over a decade,” said Stephen Kircher, president and chief executive officer of Boyne Resorts. “Innovating, thinking differently and creating industry firsts are a hallmark of Boyne Resorts’ 70-year history and this RFID breakthrough paves the way to greatly enhance the guest experience like so many of our other industry firsts have in the past. I am especially proud of how our technology team and the Axess team have worked to make this shared goal a reality and we are excited to be the first to introduce this industry innovation.”
Last season marked Boyne Resorts’ first installation of access gates that utilize a new UHF technology that provides guest-centric benefits. The gates were manufactured and installed by Axess. „Each is equipped with a special long-range antenna and RFID (radio frequency identification) reader that detects chip cards such as RFID-enabled lift tickets and season passes. UHF technology enables a less invasive experience for skiers as compared to the short-range equipment more commonly deployed by ski resorts operating gate systems. The UHF read range is also wide and early model gates proved a need for greater precision,“said Oliver Suter, CSO and Member oft he Board of Axess. The design installed last season captures that precise read, operated successfully and secured Boyne Resorts’ immediate and long-term plans for UHF solutions across its network.
“Thinking long term, our commitment to use only long-range technology came easy, yet many resorts— including our partners, use short-range readers, and leaving skiers to carry the burden of our decision wasn’t an option,” said Dan Beeler, chief information officer of Boyne Resorts. “Axess assembled a project team who fully adopted our guest-centric approach and we share great pride in what we have achieved. Whether it’s a season pass from our resorts, an Ikon Pass or other partner pass, or a daily lift ticket the skier is wearing, fast and hands-free lift access powered by the world’s first dual-frequency gates can be experienced this next season at our Big Sky and Loon Mountain resorts.”
“We are proud of being chosen by Boyne Resorts to be partner in the development of dual-frequency lift access,” states Oliver Suter once again. “With this new product, we and Boyne Resorts are a step ahead of other companies and resorts and skiers can enjoy so much more benefit out of it. Even more is possible. With UHF technology, resort management is able to check and announce wait times at the lifts and even monitor occupancy rates of their restaurants.”
