Hyatt has rolled out room keys in Apple Wallet at six participating hotels in the US, with plans to roll the technology out across the group’s global portfolio.
Guests that are members of the World of Hyatt loyalty programme will be able to unlock their rooms and key card-protected common areas such as gyms, pools and elevators via their iPhone or Apple Watch.
Guests can hold their device near the door’s NFC-enabled lock provided that the iPhone is running iOS 15 or that the guest is using an Apple Watch running watchOS8.
The initiative is operational at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Hyatt Centric Key West Resort and Spa, Hyatt House Chicago/West Loop-Fulton Market, Hyatt House Dallas/Richardson, Hyatt Place Fremont/Silicon Valley and Hyatt Regency Long Beach.
World of Hyatt members can add their room key to Apple Wallet after completing a reservation, which will also remind them when it’s time for check-in. The key with the room number will be activated once the guest is checked in and the room is ready.
They will not have to unlock their device to use their room key if they use the Express Mode, and can still use the device to unlock their room or common areas for up to five hours with the phone’s automatic Power Reserve should it be running low.
This can also be updated if guests request a change of room, an extension to their stay or a late checkout, meaning that they don’t need to visit the front desk. Guests can also check out via the World of Hyatt app, which will then deactivate the key and archive it in the Apple Wallet.
This project is another example of the contactless experience currently offered to guests, providing travellers with more control and flexibility during their stays amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hyatt’s room key is already provided as a digital key via the World of Hyatt mobile app at more than 600 participating hotels.
Julia Vander Ploeg, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Digital and Technology, Hyatt, commented:
“Like everything we do at Hyatt, our approach to technology always includes listening to our guests and members. We heard that they want access to be near-instantaneous. Room keys in Apple Wallet is an easy, convenient and secure room key option for our guests when they travel.
“We are proud to work with Apple to launch this game-changing digital experience. Many consumer technologies evolve through a ‘tipping point’ that drives a change in adoption. We believe our collaboration with Apple on this new approach to room keys in Apple Wallet can be exactly that.”
Hyatt says that the room keys “take full advantage of the privacy and security built into iPhone and Apple Watch”, and that the information is “never shared with Apple or stored on Apple servers”. If it is misplace, the guest can use the Find My app to lock device and locate it.
