More and more hotels are allowing you to open your room door with your smartphone—which not only means one less thing to carry, it also means one less line to stand in on arrival, and potentially lower labor costs for the hotels.
The big chains, such as Hilton, Starwood and Marriott, are all well along in implementing or testing systems, and smaller chains aren’t that far behind. So far, most require membership in the chain’s loyalty program, but that may change, too.
Most of the systems rely on using a phone app which allows the visitor to check in online, and then activates the ‘key’ in the phone. While check-in isn’t a big deal most of the time, checking into resort or convention hotels with large groups arriving can be much easier this way.
Some of the hotels also use the app as a way to put in special requests, access room service, and check out. For more on the trend from USA Today, click HERE
