With the turn of the 2020s came the need for big changes in hospitality design. There was a shift towards safe and healthier surroundings. Constantly improving lifestyles have invariably led to a shift inguest expectations in hotel settingstoo. As a result,hoteliers,architectsandplannersmay need to put the guest experience into their blueprint.Integrating accesssolutions can be at theforefront of design.

Guest experience today is one of thekey driversof change in the hotel landscape. These can include several aspects, namely:

Safety: A feeling of relaxation, comfort, homeliness and overall quality experiences are a priority
Convenience:Fast-track mobile-friendly technology for smooth entry, exit and personalization is valued by guests
Hotel space design:This lends a novelty experience when it engages the five senses
Hotel business centers: New generations look for more engaging and open business centers within a hotel. They prefer spaces that double up as offices while away from home on business trips.
Wellness travel, staycations and leisure travel:These features are trending. They created a positive impact and inspire a demand for curated experiences.
Quality amenities:Most consumers and travelers tend to prefer spaces that embrace sustainability, high-quality amenities and are eco-friendly.
Personalization:A special guest experience starts as early as stepping into the hotel, check-in and entering their room. It goes a long way in making visitors feel welcome and at ease. It also tilts the balance on expense-related decisions, while staying at the hotel or perhaps on another visit.

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So how are hoteliers keeping up with the demand using smart access solutions?

The hotel industry is known toupgrade with changing technologyenhancements. These include the use of mobile support for check-ins, keyless and touch-free entry, in-room controls, online staff control, room service, integrated automated solutions for housekeeping, operational excellence, smart locks, RFID keycards and more.

Hotelsincorporating modern technology such as the integration of theInternet of Things (IoT)are also on the rise. Itsaves costs,improves guest experiencesand iseco-friendlysince it reduces energy consumption. IoT is driving a wave of change and can completely change the game for the hospitality business.

Artificial intelligence (AI)and virtual reality already exist at the time of reservation toenhance brand familiarity. In future, it is expected that top-of-the-line technology solutions are used in the entire hotel. Undoubtedly, it will add to thecustomer experience.

Aiding hoteliers to achieveoperational excellenceby insuring safety are great drivers forbusiness growthand brand visibility.

Let’s look at some of theleading trendsin access solutions in hospitality design and how theyenrich the overall guest experience.

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Smart lock systems have already begun to take over the hospitality design space

Smart lock systems aredigitally controlledand can open doors using eitherdigital keys,mobile phonesand evenfingerprint scans. They are replacing the traditional lock systems that required the use of physical keys.

Smartphones can be used to operate smart locks. By connecting the smartphone through a mechanism, hotel staff can control remote locking and unlocking. Throughwireless sensors, smart lock systems are also linked to in-room controls such as air conditioning, blinds, and electronics.

In addition, mostsmart lock systemstoday have the provision totrack employee movementandguest flowwithin the hotel premises.Fingerprint scannersand/orface recognitionsoftware can be programmed foremployees in restricted areas.

Electronic stampsandlinked surveillancecan helpidentify security threatsand ensure the overallsafetyof the hotel. All kinds ofIoT platformsand keyless entry, irrespective of the access technology or integrated software used, will have alasting impact in enabling smoother hotel operations.

The next step in smart lock systems: smartphone or mobile access. Every hotelier’s next target

In many hotels today, keycard systems are being replaced bymobile-based access. There arebenefitsto this:

First, doing away with the key card andusing mobile accessinstead, means that aguest can enter the hotel room without an additional gadget. The guest no longer has a device to carry around for entry into the hotel room. Using theBluetoothortouchpad keyonsmartphoneswill connect to access systems at entry points.
Second, mobile phone access means thecheck-in time at the hotel front deskisdone away with for both, the guest and the operations teams. Thehotel management, however,has access to the control mechanisms. Theycan reset the accessmechanisms to match the new guests' mobile phones.

Hotelmobileappscan bedownloadedon smartphones. Guests can use the app to gain access to hotel areas (based on access privileges sanctioned on their reservation). Further, themobile appis agreat toolfor the hotel tostay in touch with the guest. They can continue interaction with the guest andpossibly encourage future bookings.

Newly constructed hotels keep up with this trend and integrate mobile phone access.Smartphone-basedorcontactless accesstakes the hospitality experience and customer satisfaction to thenext level. It bridges the gap between the sale/booking, to the point of check-in and the entire hotel stay. This is acrucial stepin theevolutionof the guest experience in the hospitality industry. It is likely tolead to repeat business, customer retention and loyalty.

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RFID technology in hotel access systems

Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) based lock systems arepopular in commercial setups. RFID works on thetransmission of radio wavesthroughmicrochips.Plastic cards, with an embedded chip programmed for their respective rooms, are provided to hotel guests.

Side-by-side thesecards can be controlled remotelyby the front desk or security.Multi-layer accesscan be permitted through RFID card systems, depending on restricting or granting access to different areas.

There is also an option forpayment systemsto be installed inRFID cards.This will allow guests to pay for services within a hotel using an RFID card.

Tracking of assetsis another feature of RFID chipsthat hoteliers can benefit from.This feature can be used to secure immovable and movable hotel assets.

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Best practices for integrating access solutions into hospitality design, construction and operations

Team effortis the essence of the implementation of access control systems.Architects and plannerswould need towork closely with vendors and hotel ownersright from theplanning stage. This will enable delivery and installation within the budget.

When it comes tohospitality spaces, integratingtechnology solutions must aesthetically blend within the overall design. Architects and designers prefergadgets that do not interferewith the building plans. In that sense, they influence the buying decisions of hotel owners.Balancingtheright aestheticswith theright technological solutionsis key toachieving the hotelier’s branding and business goals.

Design functionality of public areas like lobbies, corridors, fine dining, restaurants, bars, spas and, private spaces like hotel rooms and in-room elevators go hand-in-hand in a well-designed hotel space. Therefore,access control functionscan beflexibleandcustomized depending on their useinpublicspaces,privateareas and restricted staff areas (offices, storage and management areas).

It is important toensure barrier-free entry and exitwhendesigning doorsandaccess controls. Automatic door systems are selected based on criteria such as visitor flow/traffic, air flow, design constraints, safety and budgets. It is advisable to use custom-made systems that aresimple and easy to operateby the hotel staff and guests.

Another factor to consider is appointing specialized consultants or agencies for the regular maintenance and upkeep of automated systems. They can be selected based on the size of the hotel’s business.Scheduled maintenanceand refresher trainingafter installation can go far in the smooth functioning of integrated access solutions.

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Why choose dormakaba as your trusted partner for access control?

Access solutionsare an area that is dependent on the application. Based on the industry,each project has different requirements. Hospitality is one industry that has unique andmultiple factors that influence its growth. As a constantly evolving industry, there are a different sets of needs to meet the ever-changing consumer needs. This is wheredormakabacan come in withspecialization, andexperience, unique to thehospitality industry.

dormakabaleaves no area and no technology uncovered. We have customizable solutions for all types of hotel properties, design styles and every area of application within a project.Product innovationis at the heart of dormakaba's functioning and belief system as a business and organization. All of dormakaba’s solutions are easy to itemize. There is an aesthetic range that makes it easy for you to specify the desired fit for your project design. We provideend-to-end services, right from impressive entrance systems, controlled entry and restricted access systems, RFID-enabled door lock systems, completemobile support for guest access, quiet room door systems, seamless in-room integration to room management systems for energy control and emergency route and protection systems for the whole hotel property, we have it all. What is more, is that wemake it easy for architects and planners to understand and apply access solutions at a strategic level.

We look athotels as an experience, just like your end consumer does. Right from planning to the final result and after service, we are just a call away. We go beyond providinghardwareandsoftware solutions. We can help you ensure that every project stakeholder has their interests addressed. Our clients can also avail of fullycustomizable maintenance packages post-installation.

Some brilliant projects executed by us include the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland and The Sheraton in Milan, Italy.