Hyatt has today started rolling out Apple Wallet room keys, making Hyatt the first hotel brand to offer this.
In this post:
Hyatt partners with Apple for digital room keys
Hyatt is in the process of introducing room keys through Apple Wallet, with the first six participating locations having this feature as of today. Specifically, the following six hotels are the first to offer this:
- Andaz Maui at Wailea
- Hyatt Centric Key West
- Hyatt House Chicago West Loop Fulton Market
- Hyatt House Dallas Richardson
- Hyatt Place Fremont Silicon Valley
- Hyatt Regency Long Beach
While this is expected to be rolled out to other properties as well, a timeline for that hasn’t yet been shared.
With this new feature, World of Hyatt guests can tap their iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock guest rooms, as well as key card-protected common areas, like gyms, pools, and elevators. There won’t be a need to open an app or handle plastic keys.
Here’s how Julia Vander Ploeg, Hyatt’s SVP and Global Head of Digital and Technology, describes this development:
“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.”
How does Hyatt’s Apple Wallet room key feature work?
How exactly does using Apple Wallet as a Hyatt room key work?
- In the World of Hyatt app, members will be able to add their room key to Apple Wallet after completing a reservation; you need to have either iOS 15 on the iPhone or WatchOS 8 on the Apple Watch for this to work
- The room key will be updated when it’s time for check-in
- Once the guest is checked in and a room is ready to use, the key will be activated in Apple Wallet; it will show the room number, and it can be used immediately
- The room key will remain active until the guest checks out, and in the event a stay is extended or late check-out is granted, the hotel can update the key in Apple Wallet remotely, so there’s no need to visit the front desk
- Once the key is added to Apple Wallet, guests can simply hold their device near a door lock to access key card-protected areas
- If an iPhone needs to be charged, you can still use the device to unlock doors for up to five hours using the automatic Power Reserve
- It’s pointed out that this offers enhanced security, as the room key is never shared with Apple or stored on Apple servers, and if an iPhone or Apple Watch is misplaced, guests can use Apple’s features to remotely find the device
This sounds exciting, I think?
We’ve seen some major hotel groups roll out digital keys, though I never really found it to offer a seamless experience. I feel like for the times I did try it, I spent more time troubleshooting problems with the hotel than the potential time savings.
By comparison, the concept of being able to unlock a room with Apple Wallet is exciting, even for someone like me, who isn’t great with technology. Assuming this works as described, I could totally see myself using this, and could see this becoming extremely popular in the long run. Of course it’s worth acknowledging that the connection to Apple is a double-edged sword, since this won’t be useful for Android users.
I’m cautiously optimistic about this innovation. The big question is what timeline we’re looking at for this technology being introduced. With many hotels in a tough financial situation, I imagine that retrofitting all locks to be compatible with this might not be a priority for some properties.
Bottom line
Hyatt has now started the process of rolling out room keys through Apple Wallet, which is an exciting innovation. Initially this is only available at six hotels, though it should be expanded over time. While Hyatt isn’t the first hotel group to offer digital keys, it is the first hotel group to partner with Apple, so my hope is that this is actually useful.
Do you see yourself using this new Apple Wallet room key feature? What has your experience been with other existing digital room key options?
What happens if you travel with your spouse/partner/companion and you need two sets of keys?
Credit/debit cards aside, it’s possible to share Apple Wallet items so long as the developers didn’t disable that feature. In the worst case scenario, get a keycard from the front desk.
I would never put Bluetooth on in public for cyber security reasons . I don’t use wireless headphones. I think with Hilton I turn the Bluetooth on and then immediately turn it off after opening the room.
NFC doesn’t require Bluetooth to be turned on.
@Peanus? Then, why are you reading OMAAT and you know Ben has provided way more than enough useful and helpful information, advice and tips.
Quite interesting! @ben I think there’s an error with Hyatt Pace Fremont.
Hotels don't need to retrofit their locks, I believe. Both the traditional room keys and Apple devices use the same NFC technology.
NFC even better. Means you likely don’t even have to open the Apple Wallet. A boon especially if you want to use your Apple Watch. I think SPG was on its way to having this years ago before Marriot bought them.
In that case, it would be rolled out across the board with a big announcement and not just in a handful of hotels..... there is likely a retrofit that's needed, esp for older locks that were installed in the 90's which few hotel owners have appetite for during Covid unless someone can show an ROI. New ones that have NFC will need to have the lock vendor give their lock algorithm to hyatt, which may...
In that case, it would be rolled out across the board with a big announcement and not just in a handful of hotels..... there is likely a retrofit that's needed, esp for older locks that were installed in the 90's which few hotel owners have appetite for during Covid unless someone can show an ROI. New ones that have NFC will need to have the lock vendor give their lock algorithm to hyatt, which may or may not happen either. Unfortunately almost anything new requires a retrofit :-(
At the same time, it is awesome to be able to use the Apple Wallet to open the room door and not to have to fumble with the app.
I am all for more bluetooth use since my airpods magnet tends to mess up my room cards when i put them in the same pocket.
That said i do fear the end of the room key cards is soon. I have been collecting them my whole life as i have done with sports and concert tickets but tickets are 95% digital now so now more collecting. Only a matter of time before hotels are the same.
Your silly hobby is wasteful for the environment.
100 plastic cards yup that's terrible for the environment I'm surprised we are not all dead yet because i keep room key cards haha. How mad are you gonna be when i tell you i got a plastic bottled water today at lunch.
@Peanus
That +52% co2 emissions for a 2:30 hr flight with a flatbed tho.
it is actually NFC, not Bluetooth (nitpicking)