How Ascension Associates and 33 Lock Transformed Access Control with Speed, Savings and Support
Ascension Associates, an Indianapolis-based real estate transformation firm, specializes in brand transitions, systems integration, and CAPEX (capital expenditures) coordination for hotels and commercial real estate projects. Serving clients across the U.S., they manage everything from design and procurement to technology implementation and operational rollout.
One of their key clients, Blue Suede Hospitality Group, has a rapidly expanding portfolio of boutique lodging projects, including urban hotels and luxury cabins, designed with tech-forward, contactless check-in experiences.
As their development pipeline grew, access control emerged as a recurring obstacle. Their existing access vendor struggled to meet project demands, with delayed hardware shipments, unreliable communication, and high costs, repeatedly putting launch timelines at risk.
The Challenge
One major project, the Happy Traveler Resort in Florida, highlighted the growing urgency of the issue. The property was being redeveloped to include luxury log cabins for short-term rental. Ascension Associates was managing the full scope of the project, including cabin installation, interior design and procurement, and extensive on-site amenity upgrades.
Once again, the access control vendor failed to meet shipping deadlines. Communication was sparse, and delays threatened to push the project off schedule.
A faster, more dependable access solution was needed to meet the timeline, provide cost-effective hardware, and support the installation and onboarding process with clear, consistent communication.
The Solution
33 Lock was selected to deliver the access control solution for the project. The decision was guided by what Ascension Associates’ Managing Partner Samson Cassel Nucci refers to as the “triple constraint” of every project: time, cost, and scope.
33 Lock delivered on all three:
Rapid fulfillment and flexible shipping options to meet tight deployment timelines.
Affordable hardware at half the cost of the previous vendor’s, freeing up budget for other priorities.
A high-performance smart lock system with custom PIN code access and direct integration into the property’s existing management systems.
What set 33 Lock apart even further was their communication and involvement throughout the installation and onboarding process. “I really value the communication I get from 33 Lock on an ongoing basis. Getting that personal touch is important, and makes every step of the process so much easier,” shared Samson Cassel Nucci.
The Results
With 33 Lock, the project stayed on schedule and delivered exactly what the team needed: a fast, affordable, high-performing access control solution.
As the site expanded, additional locks were added seamlessly, ensuring a consistent experience and efficient operations across all units. Installation was quick, performance was strong, and the system proved highly adaptable across different property types.
The success of this implementation has led to further projects between Ascension Associates and 33 Lock, all with the same high level of execution: on time, on budget, and with strong dependability and support.
Conclusion
Ascension Associates and 33 Lock delivered a smart access control solution that helped Blue Suede Hospitality Group stay on schedule, reduce costs, and provide a reliable and user-friendly solution for guests and staff.
With continued growth ahead, the partnership remains a key part of delivering high-quality access control solutions for fast-moving hospitality projects.
“Your access control will be done exactly the way you want it when you work with 33 Lock. Everything has been to or exceeding expectations — the triple constraint [time, cost, and scope], the ongoing operations. I want to use them for every project moving forward because of the phenomenal experience I’ve had with them.”
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