II

ABSTRACT.

A new technology that has already being used in smart phones and offering numerous
applications for the hospitality industry is the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. NFC,
developed through collaboration between Phillips and Sony, is based on small radio frequency
identification (RFID) chipset that can be embedded inside a phone. One example of NFC
technology, which is slowly gaining market share, is the mobile payment systems such as digital
wallets. A digital wallet works with near-field communication (NFC) technology, which passes
encrypted data between devices at close range without contact. The idea is that instead of
swiping a credit card, shoppers can simply wave their phones at a checkout terminal to pay for
their goods (Arthur, 2013). NFC technology is gradually entering the hospitality industry. For
example, a pilot test was implemented at The Clarion Hotel in Stockholm. When the guests
arrive, they received a welcome text message. After representing their room number, they
were able to download the virtual NFC key through a link to the mobile web site of the hotel.
The mobile hotel key application saves the virtual key on the SIM card of the mobile phone. The
guests can then open their room door by a simple move of their mobile phone. For check out
they just tap their phone on an NFC tag in the lobby area (Egger, 2012). Despite the fact that
NCF is currently perceived to be one of the most promising technologies for the future, little or
no research has been conducted to determine the perception and the acceptance of NCF
technology in the hospitality industry. The purpose of this study is to examine customers’
perception and acceptance of NFC technologies in the hospitality industry.