Alexandre Dalloni

Operations Guest Services of Paris Aquarium

Secure, Seamless, and Smart: How Paris’s Aquarium Reinvented Visitor Experience with VLocker

Nestled between the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro, one of Paris’s most iconic aquariums faced a pressing challenge: how to offer visitors a secure, convenient way to store their belongings in a post-2015 world. After the Paris terrorist attacks, the site was forced to suspend all cloakroom services due to heightened security measures. Yet, visitor demand for storage never went away. “We had recurring requests for a cloakroom,” says Alexandre, a spokesperson for the aquarium. “But due to safety, staffing, and financial constraints, we could no longer operate a traditional check-in system.” The solution? An innovative, automated locker system that would not only meet security requirements but also improve the visitor experience and generate revenue.

A Discovery in Chicago Leads to Innovation in Paris

The turning point came when the aquarium’s CEO, Alexis Powilewicz, visited the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and discovered VLocker, a secure, monetized locker system rarely seen in French cultural institutions, where lockers are typically free. The team quickly saw the potential. “VLocker offered exactly what we needed: security, simplicity, and practicality,” Alexandre explains. “From the start, their team understood our needs and worked closely with us to define locker sizes and quantities based on our daily visitor flow.” The collaboration was seamless. VLocker’s responsiveness and experience made the implementation process smooth and efficient.

Security and Visitor Comfort, Hand in Hand

From a security perspective, the lockers have proven solid and reliable. More importantly, they’ve become a vital part of the aquarium’s visitor services. “We have strict rules about items like helmets and scooters, which aren’t allowed inside,” Alexandre says. “Thanks to the lockers, we no longer have to turn people away, we can offer a practical alternative. That’s helped reduce revenue loss and boosted satisfaction.” Families and tourists in particular benefit from the variety of locker sizes, allowing them to enjoy their visit hands-free and stress-free.

Implementing, Adoption, and Impact

The rollout involved communication across digital and in-person touchpoints, from social media to on-site staff. The lockers themselves are intuitive to use, thanks to a multilingual touchscreen interface. “The only challenge is that some guests forget to fully close their lockers, which can allow free use,” Alexandre notes. “We’ve addressed this with closer monitoring, and overall, adoption has been smooth.” Since implementation, the aquarium has seen a marked decrease in lost property incidents and customer complaints. Front-of-house staff have also benefited from a lighter workload. Financially, the lockers have delivered results, generating reliable monthly income through a revenue-share model. “It’s been a win across the board for security, operations, and the bottom line,” he says.

Looking Ahead

While the system is already functioning well, the aquarium continues to explore enhancements with the VLocker team.

“Their solution is adaptable, and their support is ongoing. The lockers are durable, secure, and user-friendly. We’d definitely recommend VLocker to any public-facing venue looking to improve safety and the visitor experience.”

In a world where seamless, secure experiences are non-negotiable, this Parisian aquarium has set a new standard, proving that smart solutions can transform even the most traditional of services.