Mike Wuerthele
Hyatt will be the first organization to add full Apple Wallet integration for NFC hotel keys, starting with six properties in the US.
Following an initial announcement of the Apple Wallet technology expansion at the 2021 WWDC, Apple appears poised to roll out hotel key support in Apple Wallet to the world on Wednesday.
The system reportedly works through the World of Hyatt mobile application. Similar to how other passes are added, a screen offers the user a button to add the key to the Wallet. Accordingly, they are added to the Apple Watch as well.
The Apple Wallet entry has contextual information, like reservation dates, the hotel name, reservation number, and more.
TechCrunch notes in Wednesday's report that guests may not have to have a strict "check-in" in the lobby if this option is used. The app can push a notification to the user that the room is ready, and the check-in and check-out processes can be executed on the phone.
Further implementation of the technology will require upgrades to the infrastructure of the building, including locks and more.
The report claims that hotel key support is rolling out on Wednesday to iOS 15 and watchOS 8 users.
Hyatt properties supporting hotel keys in Apple Wallet at launch
- Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
- Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa
- Hyatt House Chicago/West Loop-Fulton Market
- Hyatt House Dallas/Richardson
- Hyatt Place Fremont/Silicon Valley
- Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Hyatt originally said that it would roll out the technology to more than 1000 properties later in 2021. It isn't clear if this timetable will be met.
Other hotel chains have similar executions chained to an app, versus Apple Wallet. Hyatt's implementation is the first to use all of Apple's technology including the low-power mode that mass transit passes utilize.
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2 Comments
Brilliant. I stay at Marriott properties several times a month and have given up on the mobile key. It's cumbersome to have to open the app and wait for it to come up so I can tap on the mobile key icon. I just stayed at Bellagio in Vegas last week and tried their mobile key and it was slightly better, but still a bit of a hassle.
When the Marriott Bonvoy app adds Wallet support, I will give it another shot (especially if it can use "transit" mode to avoid even having to open the wallet in the first place).