When it comes to locks and security, what hoteliers want is simple.
“They want reliable locks that are well designed,” said David Ginn, VP, lodging sales, Dormakaba. “They also want their locks to be ‘future proof’; the locks will communicate with other systems and be part of a hotel’s total IoT system suite.”
Michael Cline, VP of hospitality sales, Salto Systems, said, “Hoteliers are looking for a comprehensive electronic access control solution that is technologically advanced yet easy-to-use, integrates with their existing systems, is reliable and is, of course, affordable. Hotel management is looking for a way to streamline operations and cut costs, so it’s essential to provide all-encompassing solutions that address the needs of the wide range of applications and operating environments—from the most basic guestroom door and main entrance to back of house, meeting rooms, lockers, gates, elevators, emergency exits, pools, spas and more.”
Not surprisingly, mobile access is gaining traction. Casey Fale, GM, Onity, said, “Onity sees opportunities for hotels to continue to enhance the guest experience by making it more seamless in places such as parking garages and elevators… As guests start to rely more on mobile key technologies, we expect to see a decline in magnetic card usage followed by a decline in RFID cards. In the long term, decreased use of plastic cards can lower operating cost for properties and can reduce a property’s carbon footprint.”
Salto Systems’ JustIn mobile solution replaces keycards with a mobile app.
Ginn cautioned, “If you plan to implement a mobile access solution, it should be easy for guests to understand and use.”
In addition, Fale said, “Look for a mobile access system that supplements the security features that already exist in hotel locks, such as access permissions and audit trails. On top of the first level of encryption, which assigns access rights for a stay, the best systems will provide an additional security layer with a 128-bit AES encryption key that is unique to the door lock for which the credential was generated.”
“Door lock technology continues to expand beyond the guestroom,” Cline added. “It’s becoming part of the entire guest experience and an important way to improve customer satisfaction.”
Commenting on the ongoing evolution of locks and IoT, Ginn added, “It’s important that locks in the future are compatible with third-party systems like energy controls. Another trend looking forward is how locks work in concert with CCTV to provide total access accountability.”
Nicolas Aznar, president of Assa Abloy Hospitality, Americas, added, “The industry is increasingly moving toward cloud-based solutions for security technology. This trend aligns with other trends, such as IoT where more devices, systems and amenities possess online capabilities. A primary advantage that the cloud provides is being able to monitor and control these platforms remotely. Cloud-based security access management solutions, for instance, are increasingly being sought out due to their ability to remotely cancel keycards or restrict access to certain areas, should a security threat arise.
Onity’s DirectKey system can be integrated with hotel loyalty apps or used with a mobile app, which can be customized with a hotel logo, property photos and contact info.
“Alongside the move toward cloud-based security access management, there has also been a growing realization of the multiple benefits that location-based technology can offer when it comes to not only enhancing guest satisfaction and operational efficiency, but also employee and guest safety,” Aznar said. “Using BLE technology to track the real-time location of amenities or personnel within a property offers a wide range of experience-enhancing possibilities.”
“Technology inside the door locks themselves is evolving,” Fale added, noting the company is working on improved door-open times when guests use a mobile key, as well as integration with in-room smart devices. “In addition, locks will continue to develop more streamlined aesthetics, especially for high-end properties and resort applications.”
