| |
Park Assist® Dramatically Decreases the Time It Takes for Consumers to Find Parking Spots in Crowded Mall Garages
CENTURY CITY, CALIF. (Sept. 2, 2008) – Shopper’s at Westfield Century City will now spend more time shopping and less time waiting for a parking spot – 55 percent less time. Westfield Group, Inc., owner of Westfield Century City shopping center, today announced the launch of North America’s first state-of-the-art electronic parking guidance system, Park Assist®. Through a high tech, but customerfriendly, series of colored lights and signage, Park Assist will dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes a customer to find a parking spot after they enter the garage. Within minutes, shoppers will be out of their cars and headed to enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment.
According to Erick Klafter, Senior General Manager of Westfield Century City, the shopping center continually solicits feedback from its customers and has responded to their requests for easier and faster parking by introducing this new system. “Parking is the first part of the shopping experience and Westfield has invested in this state-of-the-art system so our customers are guided to the first available spot quickly and smoothly,” said Klafter. “Park Assist is just one of the many conveniences we have built into our New Century Plan that will enhance the way patrons shop, dine, and live in Century City.” Park Assist directs drivers from the moment they enter the garage directly to the closest available parking spot. Each parking space has a sensor that detects vehicles and transmits data in real time to lights and signs that immediately show open parking spots on each row and at each specific parking space.
Additionally, there is directional signage at every garage intersection so customers only enter parking rows with unoccupied spaces.
Westfield Announces Park Assist Electronic Parking Guidance System
A system of colored lights signify parking space location and availability:
- Green – unoccupied space
- Red – occupied space
|
- Blue – handicapped space
- Purple – expectant mothers
| The blue and purple lighting system for spots reserved for special needs customers substantially reduce the abuse of these parking spots, as well as provide quick direction and location of spots for these customers.
“Our system allows Westfield Century City customers to find a space and park 55% more quickly than before the Park Assist system installation. And based on our success in other countries, ease of parking adds value to Westfield Century City customers who are inclined to return more often because of the parking and shopping experience,” said Daniel Cohen, CEO for Park Assist.
The Park Assist system is one component of Westfield’s Commitment to Green and its New Century Plan project with a goal of achieving Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council by the end of 2008. The Park Assist system reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 56 percent due to fewer cars idling while waiting or searching for spaces. The system runs on that same amount of power needed to light 10 flashlights.
According to Cohen, the Park Assist system has had tremendous success in Europe and Australia. In addition to the customer and environmental benefits, a study conducted by an independent consultant at Westfield Chatswood in Australia found the system allows 100 percent utilization of the parking garage, as opposed to the industry standard 92 percent of less when drivers are unable to find the remaining few spaces. Additionally, retail sales increased between two and five percent, when shoppers returned more frequently.
ABOUT WESTFIELD GROUP
Westfield Century City is owned by the Westfield Group (ASX: WDC), the world’s largest listed retail property group by equity market capitalization. Westfield operates a global portfolio valued at approximately $56 billion that includes 118 shopping centers in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Westfield is an internally managed, vertically integrated, shopping center group undertaking ownership, development, design, construction, funds/asset management, property management, leasing and marketing activities and employing in excess of 5,000 staff
worldwide.
Westfield Announces Park Assist Electronic Parking Guidance System
In the United States, Westfield operates a portfolio of 55 shopping centers that encompass over 8,700 specialty stores and comprise more than 62 million square feet of leasable space in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington. For more information, please visit www.westfield.com.
ABOUT PARK ASSIST
Park Assist is the global leader in sophisticated parking technologies which are now used by some of the largest retailers and developers in Australia, Europe and the USA. The company specializes in the use of Sensors to enhance a customer’s parking experience, improve car park revenues and optimize asset management. The Park Assist system has been demonstrated to substantially improve financial returns for public and private clients.
The Company’s products are developed in-house and provide clients with a turn-key solution from installation to ongoing support. The Park Assist team has a diverse and unique array of skills ranging from hardware and software development to Advanced Parking Modeling. For more information, please visit www.parkassist.com
|
|