Automated Valet celebrates successful installation at W Hotel

LAZ Parking recently acquired Sunset Parking Service, joining two industry leaders with a combined 60 years in the business. The two worked together to form the valet operation at the W Hotel. They chose Automated Valet to provide their operating system, AVPM.

LAZ is nationally known for its hugely successful operation of many high-profile venues, including hotels, universities, theaters and office buildings. Specifically, LAZ provides parking operation for the Baltimore Parking Authority, Boston College, Providence Place Mall, and the Sheraton Boston Hotel, among others.

Robert DeBurro, LAZ Principal Operating Partner- Regional Vice President Southeast, says the company is so impressed with AVPM, they could install it at all LAZ operations.
Our standards are very high, DeBurro says. And we have found in AVPM a tool that maximizes our great services and protects revenue.

Automated Valet Founder and CEO Ken Gulec says the W Hotel operation is exceptional and the valet service is in keeping with the sophisticated style of the hotel thanks to LAZ and Sunsets high standards and Automated Valets great technology. Everything at this facility is done well. We are proud to be a contributor to that standard, he says.

LAZ leadership called their opening night at the W Hotel a great success with no keys lost, no cars lost, full performance from the staff and 100 percent uptime with AVPM.
Installing the valet operating system at the W Hotel proved to be challenging because the site has a complicated layout with multiple receiving and delivery areas and heavy traffic on adjacent streets. Not all the receiving areas could be hardwired to the system so mobile computer kiosks were installed and efficient service can be provided at every entry and exit.

All the receiving and delivery areas are networked through the web for fast and reliable communication and recording. Bluetooth scanners give valets all the information and tools they need to check in vehicles, de-code VIN numbers and even scan credit cards with and PCI-compliant interface.

Automated Valet software at the W Hotel valet operation includes Enterprise for real-time, remote access to revenue, billing, validations, and up to 100 reports. VATS validation control accounts for every validation issued and prevents fraud with scrambled and bar-coded validation stickers and completely automated entry. Another feature, biometric time and attendance, safeguards payroll by recording employees arrivals and departures with their fingerprints.

All of this great technology has come with professional and consistent customer support from Automated Valet, says DeBurro. They have shown a level of customer service that is similar to the approach we take with our customers. We work together well.

Gulec says he looks forward to further installations with LAZ Parking. They know the business and they do it right, he says. Our best work complements their best work and thats a rewarding combination.