Hilton Worldwide Announces Mobile Room Key Rollout for 2015

[Maura]

Yesterday we reported on Starwood Hotels’ new SPG Keyless mobile feature that enables you to unlock your hotel room using just your iPhone. It turns out that on the same day that Starwood Hotels announced this new feature, Hilton Worldwide also announced a similar new service. I'm not sure which one announced first, but they certainly both announced it on the same day.

Hilton’s new “mobile-enabled room key” service will be available to Hilton HHonors members from late spring 2015, and specifically those staying at U.S. properties of the Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Canopy by Hilton brands.

Using the system, guests will be able to check in, select their room, and access their room when they arrive at the hotel, all via the HHonors app on their iPhone.

They will also be able to use the app to access other parts of the hotel that require a room key, such as the fitness center, executive floors, elevators and parking areas.

“Our mobile room key technology gives our guests greater choice and control over their entire experience,” said Geraldine Calpin, global head of digital at Hilton Worldwide. “Never before has a hotel guest been able to check-in, select their room from a digital floor plan, request items to be ready upon arrival, and then access their room via their smartphone and find it exactly the way they requested it. We’re truly revolutionizing travel by making the stay experience more convenient.”

Pilot testing of the scheme will commence at 10 U.S. properties in early 2015, and it will be enabled at all Conrad Hotels & Resorts by early 2015, and at the U.S. properties of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Canopy by Hilton by the start of summer 2015.

Source: Hilton Worldwide