HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU and BELLUSTAR TOKYO Introduce 'MEET Touch Business Card for Business'

Meet Inc. (Representative Director and President: Isao Iwaki; Location: 1-50-13 Tsurumaki, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo) has announced that its next-generation communication service 'MEET', which utilizes NFC (Near Field Communication), has been adopted by two hotels in the Tokyu Kabukicho Tower complex in Kabukicho, Tokyo: 'HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, A PARKROYAL Hotel' and 'BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel'. We interviewed staff at HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU about the use cases for 'MEET', which was adopted with the goals of promoting sustainability and improving smart services for inbound guests. ■ Challenges Before Adoption: The Contradiction Between Sustainability and Business Cards The hotels established a 'Sustainability Committee' to promote activities aimed at realizing a sustainable society. The committee members, selected from various departments, often had opportunities to participate in events and external exchanges as 'committee members', but there were no committee-named business cards, so they needed to create them. Meanwhile, as a committee responsible for promoting sustainability, they explored the possibility of digital business cards as a way to 'provide necessary business cards while eliminating the use and disposal of paper'. ■ Deciding Factor for Adoption: Alignment with the Philosophy of 'Reducing Paper Waste' The primary reason for choosing 'MEET' was that the concept of 'MEET Touch Business Card for Business' perfectly matched the Sustainability Committee's goal of 'reducing paper waste'. The staff member stated that this digital business card could embody their initiatives as a committee. Also, through a connection with an event organizer, they felt an affinity and decided on a trial introduction. ■ What is 'MEET Touch Business Card for Business'? It is a digital business card service for companies offered by Meet Inc. that can be managed collectively on an administrative screen. - One-touch exchange: The other party does not need an app; just hold your smartphone near it. - Real-time updates: Changes in department or position are immediately reflected from the administrative screen. - No scanning needed: Can be easily registered in business card management services. - Usable online: Also supports online business meetings by issuing a URL. - Visualize sales activities: Automatically count the number of business card exchanges and check them on the management screen. - Create connections after meetings: Provide information such as corporate sites, SNS, and PDF documents. - Contribute to SDGs: No more mass printing and disposal like paper business cards. - Automatic multi-language translation: Automatically translates information according to the other party's language settings. ■ Specific Use Cases [Use as Business Cards] Starting with the Sustainability Committee members, its ease of use became popular, and now the circle of use has expanded to the Sales & Marketing Department. It is particularly well-received for being able to easily share information with a single smartphone, even at exhibitions and business meetings where many people gather. Currently, they have adopted 'MEET Touch Business Card for Business'. Since settings for each member can be easily changed from the management screen, they have achieved efficient operation without waste, such as being able to inherit the same business card when the person in charge changes. [Use as a Hotel Card Alternative at the Front Desk] They utilize 'MEET' as a substitute for hotel cards presented by guests when returning to the hotel from outside (e.g., by taxi). Hotel information such as address, telephone number, maps, and official SNS are consolidated into one and provided to guests from the front desk. ■ Effects After Adoption 1. Ice-breaking effect: The experience of presenting a business card by touching is a conversation starter, and by explaining their sustainability initiatives, they have gained deeper interest and empathy from those they exchange cards with. 2. Improvement of operational efficiency: For guest requests like 'I want you to send me a recommended restaurant list' or 'Tell me your email address', they used to respond manually. Now, they can share information with one touch, significantly improving operational efficiency. 3. Positive reaction from guests: Many international guests have expressed surprise and praise, saying 'What is this? Amazing!' or 'Is it okay just to touch it?'. There is also a reaction that it is 'smart and cool', which contributes to improving the hotel's brand image.