Hotels are rapidly developing smartphone apps to help speed up check-in for travelers, including letting customers go straight to their rooms by using their smartphone to unlock doors. In November 2014, Starwood Hotels and Resorts (HOT) became the first hotel to let guests unlock doors with their phones. The feature is available at 140 Aloft, Element and W hotels at mid-2015. “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.”

In 2013, Marriott International (MAR) launched the ability to check in through its app at 330 North American hotels last year. By the end of 2014, that Marriott program was live at all 4,000 of its hotels worldwide. When a room becomes available, a message is sent to the guest’s phone. Traditional room keys are pre-programmed and waiting at the front desk. A special express line allows guests to bypass crowds, flash their IDs and get keys. Marriott guests made $1.25 billion in bookings in 2013 through its mobile app, according to George Corbin, senior vice president of digital for the company. However, Marriott is holding off on smartphone keys until all the potential security issues can be resolved.
With brands Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and Canopy, Hilton Worldwide (H) is the second hotel chain, behind Starwood, to announce plans for mobile room keys — which it plans to roll out at the end of 2015 at some U.S. properties. All 4,000 Hilton properties worldwide will have a similar check-in at yearend 2014. Guests can use also use maps on the Hilton app to select a specific room.
Guests who like personal interaction, such as to ask about pool hours or whatever” can still opt for a more leisurely check-in, and hotel companies say new technologies are not about cutting jobs. Hotels desire all travelers to eventually be comfortable using their mobile apps to interact, such as using an iPad, phone, or smartwatch to request a wakeup call, purchase suite upgrades, spa treatments and room service. InterContinental Hotels Group (IGH) is testing express check-in at 60 hotels.

The top 15 hotel companies have more than 42,000 properties worldwide with a combined 5.2 million rooms, according to travel research firms STR and STR Global. Thus, some hotels have made smart app technology updates over the past few years, but they remain the minority. One reason for reluctance is security. Starwood for example requires the phone to actually touch a pad on the outside of the door to open it – to make sure if there is knock on the door late at night and a guest goes to the peephole to see who is there, their phone in their pocket will not accidently unlock the door.

Source: Based on information at http://www.dailyfinance.com/2014/11/03/smartphone-faster-hotel-check-in/