Originally Posted by
joepercussion1
Having worked in the industry before, if there is a true emergency that requires immediate entrance to a locked room, certain managers on every property have a special master key encoded that can override the deadbolt lock. Also, a lot of hotels are getting rid of the chains for the magnetic L shape latch. While they are good to prevent you from accidentally keeping your room door unlocked and open to anyone, there is actually a way to undo those (we had those magically flip when the doors would close and the room was vacant).
Using a door stop like that, while may be a safety thing, isn't a smart idea in case of an emergency. Better to use that on connecting doors, but those are hard for someone to tamper with.
As long as you use your deadbolt properly, the only person who can override that deadbolt when activated is normally the GM of the property.
Correct on all things but add in usually more than one override for the deadbolt. I was a front desk sup at a hotel when in college and I had an override key. Each manager had one and then we also had one behind the front desk in a "break in case of emergency" case which would send an alarm notice to the GM. That was in case no managers were on site and their was a major emergency like the place burning down or something.
As for the chain locks and magnetic locks, the hotels have a tool. I remember having to do this multiple times when little kids were left in the room and the parents returned to find they couldn't get in their rooms. Basically you open the door with just about 1-2cm and the tool slips in and can grab the lock and pull it back. Really easy to do.
Lastly the rooms with the slide cards or RFID cards are also designed to be override by a special Allen wrench tool in the event the batteries die in the door locks.
I would never worry about an emergency and them needing to get into the room as the hotel can quickly get the access needed even with a deadbolt and such on