Check In and Enter Your Hotel Room from Your Cell Phone Coming Soon

We have all seen the battle hardened tech traveler go through airport security and the gate to the plane by holding up their cell phone but what if you could walk right on past the hotel desk and just go to your room? It’s coming sooner than you think. Starwood Hotels and Resorts on Monday became the first chain to let guests unlock doors with their phones. Available at only 10 Aloft, Element and W hotels so far, it will soon roll out to 140 more hotel properties by mid 2015.

What if you are a Hilton Honors member? They are planning on rolling it out towards the end of 2015 but only to Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Canopy. I am not sure that makes the most sense as customers staying at the Waldorf Astoria typically are paying for service not so much the convenience that this offers. For the business traveler this would be idea for Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden more than their high dollar properties that we often don’t get to stay at.

"Guests want this because it makes their lives simpler," says Mark Vondrasek, who oversees the loyalty program and digital initiatives for Starwood. "The ability to go right to your room, gives them back time."

Marriot guests already have the ability to check in through their app and get notified when a property has a room available. The traditional room key is preprogrammed and waiting on their arrival which saves time. Marriott has an express lane for their members to take advantage of and expedite getting you room.

All this time saving will be well received by many of the road warriors as they try to get in and get settled.

[source & photo credz]