Onfido biometric immunity passport integrated with Sidehide app to support travel industry reopening

Onfido has partnered with mobile hotel booking app Sidehide to develop an integration of an immunity passport with the travel booking platform for quick and safe immunity status verification.

The integration will allow Sidehide users to easily verify their identity and immunity status with hotels of authorities while preserving their security and privacy, the companies say. Onfido’s ID document verification technology and facial biometrics are used to establish a digital identity, which is linked to the individual’s immunity status in the digital passport.

Onfido is one of several companies that submitted immunity passport proposals leveraging facial biometrics to the UK’s NHSX in April.

Switzerland-based Sidehide launched in Berlin in early 2020, allowing users registered with a government ID through a smartphone to make bookings and by-pass check-in desks. The integration with Onfido’s immunity passports allows travellers to show their immunity status with a QR code, in addition to reducing the number of necessary in-person interactions.

“The safety of our guests and staff is our ultimate priority. Sidehide provides an unbeatable booking and check-in experience for guests and with Onfido’s integrated identity verification and immunity status capability, this experience can be kept intact without compromising the health of our guests and staff,” states Alex Furrer, General Manager at The Setai Miami Beach. “This is exactly what the hotel industry needs to safely return to normal.”

The companies note in the announcement that the travel industry is estimated to have generated nearly $3 trillion in global GDP last year, indicating its importance to the overall economy.

“Getting the economy moving again is critical, which is why we’re working hand-in-hand with governments and authorities around the world to co-develop an immunity passport that can prove your immunity status without compromising on security or privacy,” comments Onfido CEO and Co-founder Husayn Kassai. “Our mission is to create a world where identity is the key to access and by working with Sidehide, we can now empower guests to use their smartphones as their identity verifier and immunity passport, reassuring both guests and hotels they are risk-free, instead of putting the burden on hotel staff.”

The combined system could also be applied to co-working offices or building access security.

Onfido raised $100 million in new funding last month to fuel its further expansion.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  facial recognition  |  identity verification  |  mobile app  |  Onfido  |  privacy  |  travel and tourism