Hilton Aims to Lose ‘Human Touch’

Hilton Hotels Corp. is experimenting with a new “smart card” that will let you check in and out of your hotel without any human contact--unless you need someone to tote your bags.

Several thousand travelers are being issued either an American Express Corporate Card, Hilton Optima Card or Hilton HHonors Diamond VIP Card with an IBM multifunction computer chip.

At eight Hilton hotels in the U.S., including the Burbank Airport Hilton and Convention Center, they can insert their cards into a lobby kiosk that selects a room, issues a key card and provides printed directions to the room. Guests can check out by inserting the card into the kiosk and receiving a printed receipt.