Why a Hotel Door Lock System is Essential for Hotels
A well-designed hotel door lock system is essential for hotels. They allow guests to check in without visiting the front desk and help manage guest departures by automatically canceling access permissions.
Electric locks with sensors and chip cards are popular with hotels because they can be easily reprogrammed. They are also ANSI approved for security.
IC Cards
Hotel key cards are a convenient and secure way for guests to gain access to rooms and hotel facilities. They’re easy to sanitize and fit easily into modern wallets and purses, making them a hassle-free alternative to traditional keys. Plus, if a card is lost or stolen, it can be deactivated immediately and replaced quickly without having to rekey the lock. It’s much more complicated and expensive to replace a traditional key if it is lost or stolen.
Magnetic stripe hotel key cards typically contain basic guest information imprinted by front desk personnel during check-in. hotel door lock system They’re scanned by a magstripe reader to activate the door lock and allow the guest to enter their room.
RFID (Radio-frequency identification) key cards are another type of hotel key card that’s becoming increasingly popular. Also called proximity cards, they don’t need a swiping action to be read; they can operate within a pre-programmed distance from the RFID reader. This is the ideal solution for hotels that want a more secure, convenient option for their guests. In addition to the room lock, a smart hotel key card can include a wealth of additional guest data that’s stored on the microchip inside it.
RFID Cards
Whether they’re used for guest room doors or other hotel amenities, RFID cards offer many benefits to hotels. They can be personalized to promote a brand or loyalty program, for example. They also can be programmed to work with a hotel’s existing security system and can be used for employee ID. In addition, hotel staff can use them to access time clocks and other hotel amenities, such as restaurants and gyms.
Unlike mag stripe or swipe cards, which require a reader to read them, RFID hotel key cards open automatically when brought within close proximity of the lock. This technology offers many advantages for hotels, including a faster and more reliable alternative to traditional locks. It also saves on operating costs and reduces the need for re-keying the property, which can cost up to $400 per room.
Additionally, RFID technology allows for more granular security. For instance, guests can be given different access levels for certain areas of a hotel, such as storage rooms or pools, based on their authorization level. This way, unauthorized visitors are not allowed to access these spaces.
RFID systems can be customized for a hotel’s specific needs, so they’re not as expensive as off-the-shelf solutions. However, it’s important to remember that the quality of an RFID system is directly related to its price. High-quality, durable products with excellent reliability will typically cost more than cheaper alternatives.
Swing Bar Door Guards
Swing bar door guards combine the security of a solid metal swing bar with choice chrome-plated good looks. When the bar is in the security position, it can only be opened 2-1/8”. This device offers extra privacy for guests and also keeps maids from opening doors while guests are sleeping or in the bathroom. It’s a great option for hotels and motels.
Unlike a traditional chain that requires more force to break, these security devices require only 100 lbs of pressure to pop off of the peg. They’re less likely to leave scratch marks on the doorframe than a chain, too.
These door latches are easy to install and meet most state and local fire codes for hotel guest rooms. While they don’t have the same fire rating as a fire-rated door assembly, they can be used on interior doors that lead from hallways to hotel rooms.
Some hotels use these locks to verify access credentials, which allows them to streamline the check-in/check-out process for guests. Guests can also set up self-check-in and contactless payments with their smartphones and receive digital keys to unlock doors and enter the hotel property. Once they’ve checked out, the digital keys are automatically canceled, which helps reduce operational costs and improves customer experience. These systems can even manage multiple properties from one app, which makes it easier to handle remote management of staff and guest rooms.
Mobile Lock Apps
The hotel industry is catching up with guest expectations for express check-in and quick, seamless access to their rooms. Smart locks can help hotels save time, create efficiencies and even increase revenue.
Today’s smart door locks can unlock using various methods such as a passcode, fingerprint, IC card or smartphone. The latest innovation, which is especially useful for short-term rental hosts and hotel chains, uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity. It lets guests swipe their smartphone by the lock to open their doors, said Shedd.
When a BLE-enabled lock senses the biometric touch of hotel door lock system a phone, an encrypted token is created, allowing the door to open within seconds. This is a convenient, safe and secure alternative to a traditional remote access solution such as leaving a key under the doormat or using a lockbox.
A hotel mobile lock app can easily be integrated with the hotel PMS and third-party software such as a booking engine or a customer relationship management system. It’s also possible to set up guest verification automation, which prevents unauthorized access by sending guests a link to download the hotel’s app, which can then open the room lock within seconds. This means the hotel can verify a guest’s identity without having to wait for the guest to walk back to the front desk or call them on the phone.
