Radio Frequency ID (RFID) ‘Smart Gates’ at Thredbo

What do you think? (Press Release below).

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‘SMART GATES’ AT THREDBO

MyThredbo is your gateway to Thredbo - it’s all about you and it’s all about making it easy.  From buying your lift pass to hitting the slopes, hiring your gear and organising a lesson, MyThredbo has you covered.

Thredbo has new direct to lift Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and smart gates that will change the way you buy your pass, products and access the mountain.  You may never have to visit the resort ticket office again.

Here’s how it works. Once you purchase your pass simply put it in your jacket or pants and when you move up to the gates it is quickly verified via an embedded chip, triggering them to open. Then you are on the lift and up the mountain - it’s hands free riding in Thredbo this winter.

The actual lift pass takes on a whole new look – gone are the paper tickets, replaced with reloadable and reusable credit card size media.  This means you can then jump online at anytime to the Thredbo eStore at thredbo.com.au and buy extra days and even add on a lesson.

According to the supplier of RFID technology, Resort Technology Partners, (RTP) “Old style paper bar code tickets are to the snow industry what CDs are to the music business - still in use, but moving past their prime. Customer expectations are changing.  Now guests expect simple and seamless ways to purchase and move around the resort and they love the convenience and simplicity of having RFID passes and smart access gates.  They no longer need to stop, produce a ticket and wait for a ticket checker to scan their ticket.  Now they simply and quickly pass right through the access gates and onto the lift without ever touching their pass or a lift ticket window” said Michael McDermott, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Management of RTP.

Along with lift passes, you will also find in the aisles of the Thredbo eStore, ski and snowboard hire, Thredboland and Freeriders programs for the kids, season passes, gift cards and Thredbo Club. The lifts with RFID access gates are Kosciuszko Express, Gunbarrel Express, Merritts, Snowgums and Easy Does It and personalised scanning by our Customer Service Ambassadors will continue on the upper slopes.

Thredbo’s General Manager Kim Clifford is looking forward to the implementation. “The new system will give skiers and boarders more time on the hill and see less time waiting around. This is just stage one, it will just keep getting better and more convenient for our customers” he said.

PERISHER’S ‘MYRIDE’