We could begin this article with a pun about how door locks can unlock even more success for your property. But we won’t do that. Instead, let’s stick to the facts: a modern door lock setup can help you improve the guest experience, save time for staff and boost security.
Many hoteliers push the door lock conversation to the bottom of their list because it instinctively feels like something that’s going to be difficult and that will have a relatively low impact on the business. In this article, we hope to convince you why a modern door lock solution should be top of mind – and what the leading options are.
If you’d like to explore door locks in more detail, check out episode seven of Matt Talks. In the episode, Mews CEO, Matt Welle, is joined by door lock expert Adam Britton for a deep dive on the topic.
Why Should Hoteliers Modernize Their Door Locks?
First of all, let’s take a quick look at thewhy. Here are eight reasons why implementing a next generation door lock solution is great for your property.
1. Enhanced Guest Convenience
The days of fumbling with plastic key cards or waiting in line at reception are over. Digital locks allow guests to use their smartphones as keys, offering a smooth and intuitive experience. Guests can bypass the front desk entirely, accessing their rooms directly after completing online check-in. This convenience mirrors the seamlessness of mobile boarding passes for airlines, meeting modern traveler expectations.
2. Operational Efficiency
Traditional key systems can be a headache for staff, requiring time to manage lost keys, reissue cards and handle maintenance. Digital locks reduce these operational inefficiencies by centralizing and automating key management through cloud-based systems. Staff can remotely issue, deactivate or reprogram keys without leaving their stations.
3. Increased Security
Modern locks provide robust security features, such as encryption and tamper alerts, making it harder for unauthorized individuals to gain access. With advanced technology, hotels can set granular permissions, ensuring only the right people have access to specific areas.
4. Cost-Effectiveness Over Time
While the initial investment in upgrading locks may seem high, the long-term cost savings are significant. Digital locks reduce the need for constant replacements of physical keys or key cards. Furthermore, because many RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) locks can be reprogrammed to work with modern cloud software, hotels may not even need to replace their existing hardware.
5. Faster and Scalable Cloud Updates
Cloud-based door locks allow hoteliers to benefit from faster software updates without the downtime associated with on-premises systems. Updates can be rolled out automatically, ensuring the system is always up-to-date and secure.
6. Integration with Hotel Ecosystems
Smart locks can be integrated with property management systems (PMSs), customer relationship management (CRM) tools and mobile apps. This allows for a seamless guest journey from booking to checkout. Guests can check in online, receive their key on their phone and go straight to their room, reducing friction points and enhancing satisfaction.
7. Environmental Benefits
By eliminating physical keys and reducing reliance on disposable plastic key cards, modern door locks contribute to a hotel’s sustainability goals. This resonates with eco-conscious travelers and enhances a property’s green credentials.
8. Future-Proofing Your Property
The hospitality industry is evolving, and keeping up with technological advancements is vital. Upgrading locks positions hotels as forward-thinking and ready to adapt to emerging trends, such as mobile wallets or biometric entry systems.
The Door Lock Marketplace: Leading Providers
The door lock landscape is diverse, with several key players dominating specific regions. ASSA ABLOY, originating from the Nordics, has a strong presence across Northern Europe and Australia. Similarly, Hotek leads in the Benelux region, while Dormakaba excels in the U.S. and Canada. Salto and Onity serve markets across Spain, France, Australia and beyond.
When a particular vendor becomes the market leader in a particular region, it’s often because they have a good market fit for those hoteliers and guests. But while this should be your first port of call, there are other factors to consider when making your decision.
Choosing the right vendor also depends on support and responsiveness. A reliable provider ensures rapid troubleshooting when issues arise, preventing revenue loss from unavailable rooms. Practicalities also play a part, the most important of which is how well the door locks integrate with your existing technology – namely, your PMS and any other guest experience integrations.
The advent of cloud-based solutions has further leveled the playing field, offering faster key encoding and eliminating the pitfalls of on-premises systems, such as slow updates and hardware dependencies. For hotels with relatively modern RFID locks, transitioning to cloud systems often requires minimal hardware upgrades – mainly encoder replacements – making it a cost-effective modernization step.
The Rise of Digital Keys
Digital keys are quickly becoming a guest expectation. Leading vendors now integrate digital key functionality into their offerings, enabling guests to access their rooms via smartphones.
One standout innovation is Apple Wallet Key, which offers a seamless experience. Guests can add their room key to their Apple Wallet during online check-in, mirroring the convenience and ease of Apple Pay. Once their reservation is active, the key is ready to use, allowing guests to skip the front desk entirely.
However, the success of digital keys hinges on a unified experience. Many standalone solutions fall short by requiring multiple apps or verification steps, creating a fragmented journey. A truly integrated system – spanning check-in, messaging and key distribution – is essential for widespread adoption and guest satisfaction.
Mews Digital Key
Mews Digital Key is revolutionizing access management by seamlessly embedding digital keys into the broader guest experience. Unlike standalone apps, Mews Digital Key is integrated throughout the entire journey, from online check-in to key issuance.
Some of the key benefits of Mews Digital Key include:
1. Unified workflow
Guests receive digital keys as part of their online check-in flow, accessible via email or text, without additional logins or apps.
2. Cloud-powered flexibility
Real-time updates ensure room moves and date changes are instantly reflected.
3. Enhanced personalization
Rules for issuing keys can be tailored to hotel policies, ensuring security and personalization, especially for shared accommodations.
4. Device-agnostic access
Digital keys work natively on smartphones, while kiosks serve as a backup for guests who prefer physical keys.
By building digital keys directly into the PMS, Mews eliminates the barriers that often discourage guests from adopting new technology. It’s not just a digital key – it’s part of a fully integrated digital journey that enhances operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.
A Partner for the Future
Mews Digital Key currently supports major providers like ASSA ABLOY (Vostio Cloud), Visionline, and is expanding integrations with Salto, Dormakaba and Onity. Importantly, hotels with compatible systems can adopt Mews Digital Key without extensive hardware changes, making it an accessible step toward modernization.
As hotels embrace digital transformation, door lock technology will remain at the forefront of guest experience innovation. With Mews Digital Key, hotels can unlock a future of convenience, efficiency, and enhanced guest satisfaction.
Ready to modernize your hotel’s access experience? Learn how Mews Digital Key can transform your operations and delight your guests.
About Mews
Mews is the leading platform for the new era of hospitality. Powering over 5,500 customers across more than 85 countries, Mews Hospitality Cloud is designed to streamline operations for modern hoteliers, transform the guest experience and create more profitable businesses. Customers include BWH Hotels, Strawberry, The Social Hub and Airelles Collection. Mews was named Best PMS (2024) and listed among the Best Places to Work in Hotel Tech (2021, 2022, 2024) by Hotel Tech Report, as well as World’s Best Hotel PMS Provider (2023) and World’s Best Independent Hotel PMS Provider (2022, 2023, 2024) by World Travel Tech Awards. Mews won the Top 250 Golden Scaler Award in 2024, given to the fastest growing company in the Netherlands, and most recently, was awarded the Tech Hero 2024 Award at CIODAY. Mews has raised $335 million from investors including Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Kinnevik and Revaia to transform hospitality.
