Posted on by Wallace Chu

Valencia, CA (June 26, 2014) PDC, the global leader of innovative identification solutions, announced today the installation of its Smart Band® RFID Wristband System at Great Wolf Lodge New England in Fitchburg, MA for electronic access control and cashless payments. The indoor waterpark is the latest of eight Great Wolf Lodge resorts to introduce PDC’s RFID wristband technology to enhance the guest experience.

Designed for the specific needs of waterpark and resort guests, Smart Band® replaces traditional forms of identification, payment, and access credentials that are usually carried in a wallet, purse, or pocket. Upon check in, Great Wolf Lodge guests are issued a non-transferable, waterproof PDC Smart Band®, with a securely sealed RFID chip inside that verifies guest data when scanned by a reader. Each chip contains a unique ID number so the bands are impossible to duplicate.

Functioning as a convenient “wrist wallet,” Smart Band® enables Great Wolf Lodge guests to make instant purchases using their RFID wristband. “The cashless transactions take about half the time compared to using credit cards or cash, increasing impulse purchasing. Even the vending machines accept cashless payments, so guests don’t have to dig for change, and are more inclined to make some smaller purchases they might normally pass on,” said Robin Barber, Vice President of Leisure & Entertainment for PDC.

For hotel room access, Smart Band’s contactless interface provides significant advantages over standard magnetic stripe key cards, which can collect dirt and debris that impact performance. As Smart Band® is safely fastened around the wrist, it provides a more secure advantage.

“Families at Great Wolf Lodge New England love the convenience the Smart Band® provides. The technology allows our guests to leave cash and credit cards in their suite so they have fewer things to carry during their day,” shared Rajiv Castellino, Chief Information Officer, Great Wolf Resorts. “The Smart Band® allows guests to make dining, arcade and souvenir purchases, easily access their resort suite, and have one less thing to worry about keeping tracking of. They can focus on having fun.”

“PDC’s Smart Band® RFID Wristband System has helped us provide convenience and efficiencies to our guests that truly distinguish our resorts as innovators in the travel and destination industry,” Castellino continued.

Smart Band® can be completely customized and is offered in a wide variety of colors and material options including plastic, silicone and woven fabric. Smart Band® is available with nontransferable SecurSnap® closures, and in re-wearable styles for single-day use or for a season pass program.

In addition to its New England resort, Great Wolf Resorts uses PDC’s Smart Band® RFID Wristband System at locations in: Poconos, PA; Niagara Falls, ONT., Mason, OH; Grapevine, TX; Grand Mound, WA; Williamsburg, VA; and Concord, NC.

About PDC

With more than 55 years of experience, PDC connects people, products, and technology through innovative ID systems that deliver superior customer experiences worldwide. PDC is the global leader and pacesetter in the development of wristbands, lanyards and RFID solutions. The company serves the leisure & entertainment, law enforcement, and animal identification industries. A pioneer of innovative technologies, PDC introduced the first bar code wristband system, first thermal printer wristband, first Smart Band® RFID wristband system, and the award-winning PDC Smart® Kiosk, among many other innovations.

Since its launch in 2000, PDC’s Smart Band® RFID wristband system has been used by leading amusement parks, water parks, resorts, and music festivals to deliver unique and convenient applications that help redefine the guest experience, while reaping bottom line benefits to the companies who use them. Applications include: cashless point-of-sale; cashless arcade and vending; social media integration; keyless hotel and locker access; electronic access control; photo management systems; and customer loyalty programs. Additional PDC RFID solutions include PDC Smart® Cards, key fobs, lanyards and parking passes.

On Dec. 28, 2012, PDC was acquired by Brady Corporation, (NYSE:BRC) a world leader in identification solutions for premises, products, and people.

About Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc, Madison, Wis., is North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts, and through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge® brand. Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; the Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; Concord, N.C. and Fitchburg, MA. Additional information may be found online at http://www.greatwolf.com

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