Hotels going keyless and bypassing check-in counter

Opening hotel-room doors with an electronic swipe card isn’t terribly difficult. But industry officials want to make it even easier for guests to get into their rooms.

Starwood Hotels is one of the first hotel conglomerates to use keyless technology nationwide. It’s available at more than 100 W Hotels, Element by Westin and Aloft hotels, including the Aloft Orlando downtown.

Registered users of the Starwood Preferred Guest program can bypass the front desk, open the SPG Keyless app and hold their phone up to the door’s keypad. Using Bluetooth, guests will know a door is unlocked when the flashing green light becomes solid and their phone vibrates.

At Walt Disney World, where resort guests have been able to open their room doors with Magic Bands since 2013, up- dated technology is allowing visitors to skip the check-in counter as well.

Disney says nearly all of its hotel guests use Magic Bands as all-in-one devices that also give theme-park admission and Fast Pass plus function, as well as being used to charge purchases to the guest’s room during their stay.

Starwood’s expanded keyless system, which was announced in March, is an upgrade from Aloft’s Smart Check-In, which debuted in 2010.

In December, Hilton Worldwide announced it will roll out digital check in and room selection in more than 4,100 hotels in 11 brands worldwide. Guests in the Hilton H Honors rewards programs will be able to check in and pick their exact room from digital floor plans.

By the end of 2016, it will be available at a majority of Hilton Worldwide’s properties. Orlando Sentinel