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Here's a First Look at the iPhone's Convenient Hotel Room Key Feature
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It does. While app-based approaches are useful, this is better in that it can work even with a locked iPhone (or with the Watch -- no app required).
Sure they do... I stayed at a posh hotel in England a few months back, old school metal keys. Never say never
Hmmmm…my Samsung note 10+ has done this for years. The Hyatt app does require the rear of the phone to be placed against the door (Apple or Samsung). Other hotel apps like Hilton require the phone to be close (BT). I used my Apple 11 PM at a Hyatt and Ritz Carlton this past weekend. With their updated apps, you can check-in and out with your phone - completely bypassing the front desk. Some IHG locations (newer properties) have enabled this as well. Marriott included.
Everyone’s apps have been able to do this is much more, user unfriendly way. Most people just use the physical key rather than all those steps. Apple wallet is amazing.
Metal keys are easier to pick than the digital ones.
Uh, I would like to see the hidden conditions to see, if any guest gets away without paying the room liquors, and therefore charged as he/she leaves town…
iOS 15 and watchOS 8 introduce the ability to add hotel room keys to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, allowing you to gain access to your room, elevators, and other locked areas by simply tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch against a card reader. The feature eliminates the need for a traditional plastic room card.
Last month, hotel chain Hyatt became the first to adopt the feature at six U.S. locations, including Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa, Hyatt House Chicago/West Loop-Fulton Market, Hyatt House Dallas/Richardson, Hyatt Place Fremont/Silicon Valley, and Hyatt Regency Long Beach.
KTLA's Rich DeMuro recently visited the Long Beach location to test the feature, as seen in a video spotted by the blog Appleosophy.
Using the Hyatt app, hotel guests can add their room key to the Wallet app after completing a reservation, and they will be notified when check-in time arrives. Once a guest is checked in and the room is ready, the room key in the Wallet app will be activated for immediate use and display the guest's room number and reservation length.
DeMuro tested the feature with Express Mode enabled, meaning that the iPhone does not need to be unlocked in order to be used as a hotel room key. The process was quick and seamless, allowing him to gain access to his room and the elevator in a split second. Express Mode can be disabled for users who prefer an added layer of security.
Should the iPhone run out of battery, an automatic Power Reserve feature allows the device to be used as a hotel key for up to five hours.
Hotel room keys in the Wallet app are both convenient and can provide for a contactless experience. If a Hyatt guest needs to change rooms, extend a stay, or request a late check out, the hotel can update the guest's room key in the Wallet app remotely, eliminating the need for the guest to visit the front desk. When it's time to check out, guests can do so through the Hyatt app, and the room key will be remotely deactivated.
Hyatt plans to roll out hotel room keys in the Wallet app globally over time, and other hotel chains will likely follow suit, but the feature remains limited for now.
Article Link: Here's a First Look at the iPhone's Convenient Hotel Room Key Feature
Imagine our idiot college students losing all their metal keys during spring breaks over here...
I to want the old reliable plastic room key.
I absolutely love the idea that this will lead to less contact with the front desk. No more waiting in line, etc for the regular check-in and check-out process.
Better off waiting for quite some time. Literally everybody I know who has gone to LV in the last two years, no matter how abundantly careful they were, came home with the Rona. Some things defo do not stay in Vegas.
"Reliable" - I can count on one hand the number of times I haven't had a mag-strip plasti-key get deprogrammed through no means other than innocently sitting in my back pocket.
This looks very handy. I've always hated having to dig a card key out of my wallet to get into my hotel room. Disney was great with using your magic band to get into your room. Now I can do the same thing with my Apple Watch at any hotel that supports this.
I think the larger and more activities, the more I appreciate the credit card-like room key.
If I'm going to the pool, I don't bring anything of value, like a phone or watch. Bare minimum.
Same goes for getting ice, comp breakfast etc. I try to disconnect from tech as much as possible when I'm vacationing.
I know this is probably the opposite for people who use hotels for work.
It would be better if they could just text a card that then can be migrated to Wallet. I'm in no hurry to add a bunch of hotel apps to my phone for their data-capturing convenience.
I think the hardware is already out there for a lot of properties, they’re just using their own processes for activating. I would imagine many of those properties are actively testing this feature to have it rolled out as soon as they can.
Magic band makes sense because it's a single use device with no value if stolen and doesn't need to be charged so you can wear it all day, down water slides, no matter your age etc.
Apple Watch is a bit much in sweaty vacation mode where you don't want to scrape the screen across the pool floor when you flop down the water slide.
It's crazy that this is finally going out... it was available 7 years ago on the first Apple watch, but only one or two hotels jumped in. I used it, and it works almost exactly like it does now.
nypost.com
Apple Watch is the new hotel room key
Buried amid all the hype and hoopla over the upcoming new Apple Watch is a possible game changer for travelers everywhere: the era of losing your hotel cardkey may soon be extinct. Starwood Hotels …
nypost.com
I don't book any hotel unless they explicitly offer a Nicolas Cage Break-in as a loyalty perk.