Bluetooth locks have been available for your front door for quite a while. Now they are making the leap to one of the largest hotel chains in the world.
The Hilton app already allows you to check-in electronically, but currently you still need to collect your room key from the front desk – which kind of defeats the object. With the new system, iPhone check-in will send a key code to your phone which can then be used to unlock your door.
Brilliant solution. You are tired, it’s late at night, you just made the slog from the airport. Now you can bypass the front desk, just go right to your room. Well done, Hilton.
Hmm, it will be interesting to see who’s first to market. Starwood was talking about this back in January (cf https://www.spgpromos.com/new/?EM=VTY_SPG_NEW_PROMOTION), but hasn’t said much since then. Now Hilton’s chimed in, but they say they won’t have it until next year with full deployment by EOY 2016. Whomever gets this first is going to have a serious advantage. I prefer Hyatt, but the idea of skipping the check-in line and going straight to my room would make me pick a Hilton, or Starwood, hotel in the same general area.