Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) has led the way towards a fully contactless check-in experience by integrating Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) E-Visitor Authentication (EVA) system across all six hotels in Singapore. These hotels are Orchard Hotel Singapore, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Copthorne King’s Hotel, M Hotel, Studio M Hotel and M Social Singapore.  

Rolled out in January across the six hotels, STB’s EVA system uses facial recognition technology to match passport images to that of guests. When integrated with a hotel’s self-check-in solution, EVA creates a fully contactless check-in experience.

Mr Andy Tan, Senior Vice President of Global Operations and Partnership at Millennium Hotels and Resorts, said the fully contactless check-in experience reduces manpower needs and assists in turning over rooms more efficiently. It facilitates better schedule organisation and increases productivity as employees now have more time to perform multiple duties.

“Our jobs have become more attractive as it promotes manpower efficiency and lightens the workload during busy periods. Our staff also find that they have more time for training, and are more motivated to be cross-skilled across various operational functions such as security, call centre and reservations,” said Mr Tan.

“Overall this has benefited us as our employees can be cross-deployed to other departments, or even our sister hotels under the MHR group when needed,” he added.

The new EVA system is part of STB’s launch of their Hotel Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025. The Hotel ITM 2025 aims to achieve real value-added growth of 5.9% from 2020 to 2025, transform existing hotel jobs into higher-valued ones, and strengthen Singapore’s workforce by creating new roles in emerging areas like sustainability and technology.