May 15, 2014: As the guests in a hotel become more demanding and look for more smart ways to avail a service, the hotels are trying to offer advance services on the smartphone. Smartphones are being increasingly used as check in devices which allows a guest in bypassing the traditional check-in desk and enter their rooms. The smartphones can also be used as the room key in certain hotels. Marriott Hotels for instance in its Bangalore, Goa and Jaipur property offers a mobile check in for select members through a mobile app and once the guest checks in they can collect the key card from a designated mobile check in desk. The service is going to be made available in more properties in the coming months.
Similarly like Hotels like Starwood Hotels & Resorts and French Hotel group Accor are implementing mobile powered check in and check out. Starwood Hotels & Resorts is also on its way to adopt a keyless check in technology and for this they are working closely with locking and security solutions provider Assa Abloy. Accor is planning to have even the hotel payments through mobile and they plan to implement in around 1,000 hotels by the end of 2014.
A latest development in the field of Mobile integration is being tried out by Global hotel chain Hilton Worldwide who is not stopping with check-in alone. They are planning to bring concierge-on-mobile and this app will allow guests to manage a host of services like transportation, spa appointments, room service etc. The cost of concierge-on-mobile app is said to vary between Rs.5 to 50 lakhs and it takes minimum three to four months to develop the app.
