Access Solutions Trends In Hospitality: Keeping Up With Constantly Evolving Guest Expectations
With the turn of the 2020s came the need for big changes in hospitality design. There was a shift towards safe and healthier surroundings. Constantly improving lifestyles have invariably led to a shift in guest expectations in hotel settings too. As a result, hoteliers, architects and planners may need to put the guest experience into their blueprint. Integrating access solutions can be at the forefront of design.
Guest experience today is one of the key drivers of change in the hotel landscape. These can include several aspects, namely:
- Safety: A feeling of relaxation, comfort, homeliness and overall quality experiences are a priority
- Convenience: Fast-track mobile-friendly technology for smooth entry, exit and personalization is valued by guests
- Hotel space design: This lends a novelty experience when it engages the five senses
- Hotel business centers: New generations look for more engaging and open business centers within a hotel. They prefer spaces that double up as offices while away from home on business trips.
- Wellness travel, staycations and leisure travel: These features are trending. They created a positive impact and inspire a demand for curated experiences.
- Quality amenities: Most consumers and travelers tend to prefer spaces that embrace sustainability, high-quality amenities and are eco-friendly.
- Personalization: A special guest experience starts as early as stepping into the hotel, check-in and entering their room. It goes a long way in making visitors feel welcome and at ease. It also tilts the balance on expense-related decisions, while staying at the hotel or perhaps on another visit.
So how are hoteliers keeping up with the demand using smart access solutions?
The hotel industry is known to upgrade with changing technology enhancements. These include the use of mobile support for check-ins, keyless and touch-free entry, in-room controls, online staff control, room service, integrated automated solutions for housekeeping, operational excellence, smart locks, RFID keycards and more.
Hotels incorporating modern technology such as the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) are also on the rise. It saves costs, improves guest experiences and is eco-friendly since it reduces energy consumption. IoT is driving a wave of change and can completely change the game for the hospitality business.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality already exist at the time of reservation to enhance brand familiarity. In future, it is expected that top-of-the-line technology solutions are used in the entire hotel. Undoubtedly, it will add to the customer experience.
Aiding hoteliers to achieve operational excellence by insuring safety are great drivers for business growth and brand visibility.
Let’s look at some of the leading trends in access solutions in hospitality design and how they enrich the overall guest experience.
Smart lock systems have already begun to take over the hospitality design space
Smart lock systems are digitally controlled and can open doors using either digital keys, mobile phones and even fingerprint scans. They are replacing the traditional lock systems that required the use of physical keys.
Smartphones can be used to operate smart locks. By connecting the smartphone through a mechanism, hotel staff can control remote locking and unlocking. Through wireless sensors, smart lock systems are also linked to in-room controls such as air conditioning, blinds, and electronics.
In addition, most smart lock systems today have the provision to track employee movement and guest flow within the hotel premises. Fingerprint scanners and/or face recognition software can be programmed for employees in restricted areas.
Electronic stamps and linked surveillance can help identify security threats and ensure the overall safety of the hotel. All kinds of IoT platforms and keyless entry, irrespective of the access technology or integrated software used, will have a lasting impact in enabling smoother hotel operations.
The next step in smart lock systems: smartphone or mobile access. Every hotelier’s next target
In many hotels today, keycard systems are being replaced by mobile-based access. There are benefits to this:
- First, doing away with the key card and using mobile access instead, means that a guest can enter the hotel room without an additional gadget. The guest no longer has a device to carry around for entry into the hotel room. Using the Bluetooth or touchpad key on smartphones will connect to access systems at entry points.
- Second, mobile phone access means the check-in time at the hotel front desk is done away with for both, the guest and the operations teams. The hotel management, however, has access to the control mechanisms. They can reset the access mechanisms to match the new guests' mobile phones.
Hotel mobile apps can be downloaded on smartphones. Guests can use the app to gain access to hotel areas (based on access privileges sanctioned on their reservation). Further, the mobile app is a great tool for the hotel to stay in touch with the guest. They can continue interaction with the guest and possibly encourage future bookings.
Newly constructed hotels keep up with this trend and integrate mobile phone access. Smartphone-based or contactless access takes the hospitality experience and customer satisfaction to the next level. It bridges the gap between the sale/booking, to the point of check-in and the entire hotel stay. This is a crucial step in the evolution of the guest experience in the hospitality industry. It is likely to lead to repeat business, customer retention and loyalty.
RFID technology in hotel access systems
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) based lock systems are popular in commercial setups. RFID works on the transmission of radio waves through microchips. Plastic cards, with an embedded chip programmed for their respective rooms, are provided to hotel guests.
Side-by-side these cards can be controlled remotely by the front desk or security. Multi-layer access can be permitted through RFID card systems, depending on restricting or granting access to different areas.
There is also an option for payment systems to be installed in RFID cards. This will allow guests to pay for services within a hotel using an RFID card.
Tracking of assets is another feature of RFID chips that hoteliers can benefit from. This feature can be used to secure immovable and movable hotel assets.
Best practices for integrating access solutions into hospitality design, construction and operations
Team effort is the essence of the implementation of access control systems. Architects and planners would need to work closely with vendors and hotel owners right from the planning stage. This will enable delivery and installation within the budget.
When it comes to hospitality spaces, integrating technology solutions must aesthetically blend within the overall design. Architects and designers prefer gadgets that do not interfere with the building plans. In that sense, they influence the buying decisions of hotel owners. Balancing the right aesthetics with the right technological solutions is key to achieving the hotelier’s branding and business goals.
Design functionality of public areas like lobbies, corridors, fine dining, restaurants, bars, spas and, private spaces like hotel rooms and in-room elevators go hand-in-hand in a well-designed hotel space. Therefore, access control functions can be flexible and customized depending on their use in public spaces, private areas and restricted staff areas (offices, storage and management areas).
It is important to ensure barrier-free entry and exit when designing doors and access controls. Automatic door systems are selected based on criteria such as visitor flow/traffic, air flow, design constraints, safety and budgets. It is advisable to use custom-made systems that are simple and easy to operate by the hotel staff and guests.
Another factor to consider is appointing specialized consultants or agencies for the regular maintenance and upkeep of automated systems. They can be selected based on the size of the hotel’s business. Scheduled maintenance and refresher training after installation can go far in the smooth functioning of integrated access solutions.
Why choose dormakaba as your trusted partner for access control?
Access solutions are an area that is dependent on the application. Based on the industry, each project has different requirements. Hospitality is one industry that has unique and multiple factors that influence its growth. As a constantly evolving industry, there are a different sets of needs to meet the ever-changing consumer needs. This is where dormakaba can come in with specialization, and experience, unique to the hospitality industry.
dormakaba leaves no area and no technology uncovered. We have customizable solutions for all types of hotel properties, design styles and every area of application within a project. Product innovation is at the heart of dormakaba's functioning and belief system as a business and organization. All of dormakaba’s solutions are easy to itemize. There is an aesthetic range that makes it easy for you to specify the desired fit for your project design. We provide end-to-end services, right from impressive entrance systems, controlled entry and restricted access systems, RFID-enabled door lock systems, complete mobile support for guest access, quiet room door systems, seamless in-room integration to room management systems for energy control and emergency route and protection systems for the whole hotel property, we have it all. What is more, is that we make it easy for architects and planners to understand and apply access solutions at a strategic level.
We look at hotels as an experience, just like your end consumer does. Right from planning to the final result and after service, we are just a call away. We go beyond providing hardware and software solutions. We can help you ensure that every project stakeholder has their interests addressed. Our clients can also avail of fully customizable maintenance packages post-installation.
Some brilliant projects executed by us include the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland and The Sheraton in Milan, Italy.
Reach out to us at planning.support@dormakaba.com so our experts can help you identify exactly what kind of access solutions can work well for your next hospitality project.
