In spite of the fact that our smartphones are already capable of processing payments and unlocking doors, we’re still quite a way off ditching the traditional card and key from our still-lengthy list of pocket fodder. The Hilton Hotel chain, which already allows those staying to check in using their mobile devices, will soon permit guests to use them for purpose of entering and exiting a room during their stay, promoting the kind of seamlessness that already ought to be a feature at such a high-end chain.
We’re seeing a great deal of emphasis on smart home products, with major companies and start-ups alike seeking to broaden what is a well-established but nevertheless emerging sector of the digital market. It has been reported that Apple is in the early stages of planning its own spate of home-based smart systems that may or may not see the light of day depending on time and resources, but fairly soon, iPhone and other smartphone users will be able to enjoy a stay at the Hilton without, as a matter of fact, even having to liaise with the folks at the lobby.
One of the more cumbersome aspects of staying at a hotel is in having to sort out your room key, and although this doesn’t tend to take more than a couple of minutes, it’s still something that most of us could well do without. The Hilton, like any hotelier, wants to make every customer’s stay as enjoyable as possible, and when the new door locks roll out next year – as per a report over at The Wall Street Journal – the rigmarole of obtaining a room key should be long gone.
On the part of the Hilton, this is a fairly big expansion, with the company putting down over half a billion bucks in order to roll this feature to all of its properties. It’s a lot of money to spend, but for a company that would like to preserve its reputation for offering top-of-the-line service, it’s something of a necessity.
Other small hotel chains already offer such a service, but given the Hilton’s stake in this industry, hotel goers will soon become accustomed to this sort of thing.
Do you think every other hotel should follow suit? Leave your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
(Source: WSJ)
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