Great Wolf Resorts to Add Wristbands for Payments, Room Access

Great Wolf Resorts will give its customers wristbands that can initiate purchases and access hotel rooms at its chain of theme parks and hotels.

The Madison, Wis., company signed a deal with PDC in Valencia, Calif., for the use of its RFID wristband system at its 12 indoor waterparks and hotels nationwide. Financial terms of the agreement between Great Wolf and PDC were not disclosed.

Guests will be given a wristband on check-in. PDC's Smart Band product is waterproof and has a one-time locking mechanism to prevent the wristbands from falling off and being lost.

Other hospitality companies, including Walt Disney World, already use wristbands as room keys and contactless payment devices. Half of Disney World's patrons began using its MagicBands within the first full quarter in which they were available to all guests, the company said in an earnings call last year.

However, a similar system did not fare as well at Hersheypark, which introduced wristbands in 2012 and discontinued them about half a year later.