Hilton opens digital room key in UK

Passengers can now use their phone as a room key in UK Hilton hotels

Hilton guests can now use their mobiles as room keys in UK hotels.

The digital keys allows guests to open their room doors when their phone is within range of the room.

Hilton introduced the service in the U.S. in 2015.

Through the Hilton Honors app members choose their room, check in remotely, open their bedroom door and check out.

Guests activate the service before arrival through the app. Using their smartphone, they get a room display, like an airline seatmap, select their desired room and are asked if they’d like a Digital Key during their stay.

On the day of arrival and once their room is ready, they get a notification via the app.

They have to go to the front desk to get their Digital Key enabled before heading to their room.

When their phone comes into range of the room they press the button in the app and the green light on the door appears and the lock clicks open.

The mobile knows it is range as the room door has a beacon fitted to its lock.

Hotels in the UK offering the service include:

  • Hilton London Tower Bridge
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London ExCel
  • Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport

Some 100 hotels are expected to feature the digital key by the end of the year and all Hilton hotels should have it by end 2018.

In the future Hilton plans to introduce a preference setting where its 60 million members can set their preferred temperature, lighting and television – both in terms of preferred channels and apps – in advance.

But no information about how they solve the gym/sauna/pool mobile phone situation.

N.B. Image credit: hilton.com

Internet links

Hilton HHonors