NFC has been used in the hotel and leisure industry for a number of years. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the many reasons NFC is transforming the customer experience in the hotel industry.

EASE OF USE

Hotels have been in existence for hundreds of years, with the first one opening in AD 705 in Japan. Over the years technology in hotels has ever evolved to make guests stay more enjoyable and efficient. From lock and key, to punch cards and then later magstripe cards, the latest craze in hotel technology is NFC. It has transformed the guests experience making it easier than ever for them to check in and access their hotel room. These days you can even allow guests to check in automatically at machines that will then dispense their room card. In addition to NFC making access to rooms much easier, there are also a range of other added benefits to guests. Their room card can be used for a range of applications around the hotel or resort from accessing facilities such as gyms and swimming pools, to paying for food, beverages and other items that are then charged directly to their hotel account. This means they only need to carry one item around the resort making their staying more secure and the activities they do much easier.

MULTI-DEVICE SUPPORT

With NFC technology available in multiple formats you can select an item that works well for your guests. NFC comes in many shapes and forms including cards, fobs and wristbands. So, for example, if your resort or hotels features lots of leisure facilities you could provide your guests with a wristband that is waterproof, easily wearable and reduces the chances of a lost key card. Alternatively, you could provide guests with a fob that they can attach to their keyring, bag and other items. All this can be done using the same access system without the need for changes to locks that work with existing NFC cards. It doesn’t stop at cards, fobs and wristbands either, the latest NFC technology allows guests to be issued with a virtual key card that is stored on their mobile phone. This means guests can then use their mobile phone to access their rooms, facilities and more!

COSTS

In previous years when a guest lost a room key, it was often at great expense to the hotel and in turn the customer. When a key was lost if often meant not only replacement of the key, but of the lock too. This cost was often passed onto the customer with a fee associated with lost keys. With the introduction of NFC, it means that when a device is lost it is low cost to the hotel – the card, fob or even mobile credential can be deactivated and replaced without any need to change the door lock itself. This is turn means hotels no longer have to pass costs onto the guest and customer satisfaction is massively increased.

SECURITY

NFC adds vital security to hotels and resorts, not only for room access but for access to facilities such as swimming pools, gyms and spas. When a guest loses their key, fob, wristband or even their mobile phone the credential can be instantly removed from the system stopping anyone else for gaining access to their room as well as other facilities. In addition to this, with the implementation on an NFC access system, it means only those with permission can access certain areas, perhaps stopping children entering high risk areas such as swimming pools without a parent or preventing guests from accessing hazardous areas that are for staff only. It’s also worth mentioning that with the latest encryption key cards are highly secure, minimizing unauthorized reproduction.

SUMMING UP

NFC technology is giving hotels and resorts more and more innovative ways to give guests a more efficient and enjoyable experiencing whilst staying at their hotels. It creates a seamless experience from check-in to check-out allowing guests to enjoy everything from their room, to facilities without the need for different access credentials, vastly increasing customer satisfaction. In addition to this, there is a range of benefits to the business – it provides a wealth of useful information such as the number of people on the premises and promotes the hotel or resort as a brand of the future!

Are you looking at innovative new ways to implement NFC in your hotel or resort? Why not chat to one of our experts today on +1800 810 4950.