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Do any hotels allow users to install an app as they get in the lobby, check in on their phone and go straight to their room, without a delay waiting for room assignment?
Hello! Thank you for your question about hotel apps that allow users to check in and go straight to their room without delay. The most useful sources that I found to answer your question were the HIlton Honors App and the Marriott Mobile App. The short answer to your question is that the Hilton Honors App allows for check in from the lobby via the app, but there may still be delays while other apps from hotels require wait times or only allow the guest to pre-check in. Below you will find a deep dive of my research and findings.
METHODOLOGY
To research your question, I started with a search of major hotels and what apps they offer. I ensured that the apps that I sourced were from larger properties with more than 50 rooms, as was specified. I sourced several apps and their check in capabilities to compare what was currently available to hotel guests.
None of the apps that I found guaranteed instant room access to guests as per your request.
I also attempted to source videos of the hotel apps that I found. I was able to source promotional videos for two of the apps.
I also searched travel media for any information on this type of technology in use or production. I did not discover any additional apps that the guest can download, but I did discover information on technology that some hotels have utilized that processes check in while in the lobby without having to interact with staff or wait in line.
I verified that all the information that I sourced was up to date and valid within the last two years. Anything older or not in use was not included in my findings.
HOTEL CHECK IN TECHNOLOGY
The Hilton Honors App was the closest to the app you specified. This app allows guests to check in and pre-select their room as early as 6 am before their reservation. This app also works as a room key, so the guest can skip check in at the front desk. The downside of this app is that it is subject to room availability. It only allows the guest to skip a wait if there are clean rooms available, otherwise the guest may have to wait until a room is available. In a press release for the Hilton Honors App, it is mentioned that skipping the check in desk is only available in locations where local laws allow it. I did source promotional videos from Hilton on how the app works.
The Starwood Preferred Guest and Marriott Mobile apps both allow for check in and keyless entry in to the assigned room like the Hilton app, but they have a wait time of up to two hours after check in for guests. Starwood Preferred Guest will try to accommodate the guests preferred arrival time if they check in more than two hours in advance of the time they want access to the room. Both Marriott Mobile and Starwood Preferred Guest have promotional videos.
I also found a third party service that hotels can use that allows guests to check in from a tablet in the lobby. Boost-Inn Suite is not an app that guests can download, but is used in the lobby on connected devices from the hotel. This service allows the guests to check in and access their rooms without having to use the front desk.
CONCLUSION
To wrap up, I was able to locate the Hilton Honors App which allows the guest to check in from their device and acts as a room key, but is subject to wait times based on room availability. I also sourced the Marriott and Starwood Preferred Guest apps that allow guests to check in and open their rooms from the app, but both have a two hour wait time. Finally, I located a third party service that operates in the hotel lobby on tablets provided by the hotel that allows guests to check in and access their rooms. None of the apps and services that I found are guaranteed to be instant and without any kind of wait.
Thanks for using Wonder! Let us know if there is anything else that I can help you with!