Hilton Revolutionizes Hotel Experience with Digital Check-In, Room Selection & Custom
#31
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY
Programs: Delta Platinum/1MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 652
Just a wild thought, but I wonder if the long-term plan is to give reusable RFID keys to all elite members.
#32
On one hand, I dig the ability to select my own room. With Google Maps and a layout map of the hotel provided to the property, I can tell if I'm picking a view room (facing the right way), perhaps overlooking the parking lot if I want to keep an eye on my car, those sort of things.
On the other, they didn't do this just to improve my stay experience: someone pitched this to corporate as a way to upsell, like the Nor1 crap. I'd prefer to walk up to the front desk and get a shot at a Diamond upgrade in person than be pitched it as a sure thing if only I... Plug in my Amex number and click "Buy Now". It's a subtle way of getting people to pay a small fee to nail down the benefits of the program they should be getting already.
Paranoid Tinfoil Hat part of me also muses that I'm not using my phone as a room key until I have an idea of what sort of privacy issues I might be giving access to by allowing that. Same with the TV control apps they're pushing. I just don't feel like opening up my phone (even if it's just registering the number) so I can get bombed with HGV telemarketing calls daily.)
On the other, they didn't do this just to improve my stay experience: someone pitched this to corporate as a way to upsell, like the Nor1 crap. I'd prefer to walk up to the front desk and get a shot at a Diamond upgrade in person than be pitched it as a sure thing if only I... Plug in my Amex number and click "Buy Now". It's a subtle way of getting people to pay a small fee to nail down the benefits of the program they should be getting already.
Paranoid Tinfoil Hat part of me also muses that I'm not using my phone as a room key until I have an idea of what sort of privacy issues I might be giving access to by allowing that. Same with the TV control apps they're pushing. I just don't feel like opening up my phone (even if it's just registering the number) so I can get bombed with HGV telemarketing calls daily.)
#34
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
Generic Floorplans
Remember, just because it's offered doesn't mean you're forced to use something. A 2013 Pew poll estimated that 56% of Americans have a smartphone. While an impressive stat, that means that 44% of people don't use them. No hotel is ever going cut their potential client base by instituting a mandatory smartphone-as-room-key program.
As a former hotel person, I'll also point out that generic floorplans don't always reveal the best/worst rooms. For example, in my first hotel, most of the corner rooms had weird structural beams that blocked part of the window. And, our largest "standard" rooms were larger because they were adjacent to the elevator column for the offices that were in the same tower above the hotel. Neither of those quirks would be evident from an online floorplan.
My prediction: Unless you are very familiar with a hotel, this option will have limited utility.
As a former hotel person, I'll also point out that generic floorplans don't always reveal the best/worst rooms. For example, in my first hotel, most of the corner rooms had weird structural beams that blocked part of the window. And, our largest "standard" rooms were larger because they were adjacent to the elevator column for the offices that were in the same tower above the hotel. Neither of those quirks would be evident from an online floorplan.
My prediction: Unless you are very familiar with a hotel, this option will have limited utility.
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
I want to know which rooms are physically available when I arrive early, not which rooms they expect to probably have cleaned sometime later today after someone else checks out.
#36
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: US
Programs: DL GE
Posts: 1,654
Unplug room phone
Move clock to bathroom
Hang up shirts (I pack them already on hangers)
^
I think this is a GREAT IDEA! If it can be optional. When I travel for business I don't use a pool, I don't have anyone with me. When I travel for fun I use the pool, I have my wife and kids with me whom I would rather give a plastic key card to.
A looonnngg time ago I suggested to HHonors to switch to RFID and they could give members fobs representative of their status. Something I could clip on to my rental keys.... I still think that would be a good idea as well...
#37
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: TUL
Programs: AA EXP 2MM; Marriott Titanium; Hilton Diamond; Hyatt Explorist; Vistana 5* Elite; Nat'l Exec Elite
Posts: 6,177
I've been to an independent hotel with RFID keys. Really liked them. It's nice when you approach your room with your hands full that you don't have to try to find the key. Just get within a few inches of the door handle and it unlocks!
#38
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nebraska
Programs: HH Diamond, MR LTGold, UA, AA, AS, DL, Global Entry & TSAPre✓
Posts: 192
Specific room types
I wonder how it works if you have reserved a mountain view/partial ocean view/etc. When you check-in for room assignment, are we going to be choosing from rooms within our selected category/type?
I would hope that Joe Shmoe who reserves a standard room cannot "upgrade" himself to a completely different category.
I would hope that Joe Shmoe who reserves a standard room cannot "upgrade" himself to a completely different category.
The map did include a full layout of the entire floor, zoomable, with the location of stairways and elevators clearly noted.
Not sure if this is new functionality, or the previous rendition, but it looked good. I'll find out about checkin procedures in about 24 hours from now.
By the way... The default room that was pre-selected was indeed the one that I wanted, based on my profile specs.
#39
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AUS
Programs: AA Exec Platinum/MM, DL Gold/MM, Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,959
I was able to use this feature checking in to the ES at Boston Logan Airport a few days ago. The map is a nice way to confirm your room location relative to the elevator, but it doesn't distinguish room types very well.
The whole smartphone-as-key thing strikes me as stupidly impractical. There are enough situations in which I'd like to leave my room without my phone -- go to the pool/fitness room, get a bucket of ice, phone is charging, etc -- that I'd always opt for a physical key, whether a swipe card or something else with a RFID chip. I see very low rates of adoption, assuming it even works. Which is a big if, given how poorly all previous incarnations of their website and apps have worked.
The whole smartphone-as-key thing strikes me as stupidly impractical. There are enough situations in which I'd like to leave my room without my phone -- go to the pool/fitness room, get a bucket of ice, phone is charging, etc -- that I'd always opt for a physical key, whether a swipe card or something else with a RFID chip. I see very low rates of adoption, assuming it even works. Which is a big if, given how poorly all previous incarnations of their website and apps have worked.
#40
#41
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
Will this functionality go down every weekend, like the website does?
Implemented in all W-A and Conrads by end of summer? Umm we've only got about seven weeks of summer left right now . . . .
Implemented in all W-A and Conrads by end of summer? Umm we've only got about seven weeks of summer left right now . . . .
#42
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 123
The whole smartphone-as-key thing strikes me as stupidly impractical. There are enough situations in which I'd like to leave my room without my phone -- go to the pool/fitness room, get a bucket of ice, phone is charging, etc -- that I'd always opt for a physical key, whether a swipe card or something else with a RFID chip. I see very low rates of adoption, assuming it even works.
#43
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: On the road, 24/7/365
Posts: 3,467
I've been through several points devaluations, and never made any fuss. I've suffered the non-functional website (now better) for years (though the Android app doesn't work). I've supported a poor on-line check-in technology, with the hopes that it would improve.
But now, I've got to move on.
No, Hilton. You're not going to track me through my cell phone as a move through life. It was reatively easy (if disadvantageous) to avoid your Facebook and Twitter B*S*. But I'm drawing the line at selling myself - modern day personal data prostitution - for your marketing benefit.
15 years Diamond and I'm done.
But now, I've got to move on.
No, Hilton. You're not going to track me through my cell phone as a move through life. It was reatively easy (if disadvantageous) to avoid your Facebook and Twitter B*S*. But I'm drawing the line at selling myself - modern day personal data prostitution - for your marketing benefit.
15 years Diamond and I'm done.
#44
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
When I go to the gym, my iPhone is strapped to my arm. There will have to be some mechanism that the hotel gives people in case they are locked out, have a dumb phone, etc. You can probably go to the desk and get something if you really don't want to carry your smartphone. It doesn't look like this is mandatory.
#45
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,679
On the other hand, unless they add additional layers of security (costing significantly more for the cards) the RFID cards are susceptible to a number of security attacks. The phone based key could be more secure because a phone has the power to add layers of security. But I suspect the systems would only support the lowest common denominator.