Qwkynuf

There's a Hampton Inn on I-10 in West Covina (north Los Angeles basin) that is more or less convenient to one of my customers. I have stayed here 8 or 10 times over the past 2 years, usually for 3-4 nights at a time.

When I stayed a month ago, I wasn't able to get the check in option to show up in the app - despite the fact that the other reservations in the app were showing it. I even received a "Time to Check In" email, but it just took me to the same page in the app, with no check in button. I mentioned that it wasn't working when I shlepped my luggage to the front desk to do the in-person check in, and the agent said something offhand about it recently being "disabled".

I didn't think much about it, until the same thing happened today - no button in the app, email reminding me to check in but not letting me - at the same property.

So this time I asked if the app check in was gone for good. The front desk agent said that the "Management company has permanently disabled the option. For security".

Is this a thing now? How is this making <...whatever...> more secure?

I haven't run across any other Hilton-branded property that is doing this.

Probably not a big deal for most people, but I am hearing-impaired and have really grown to love the ability to check in, go to my room, pay, & check out - without ever having to speak to a human. In the future I will most likely stay at an HGI that's 4 miles farther away from my customer, instead. I hope this property is getting the benefit they expect from this change.

Has anyone seen this at other properties?

aww3583

Haven't seen this in all my travels (almost 200 different Hilton properties).

But, I've seen increase in new processes/procedures being implemented in the name of "security". I've seen front desk staff required to type in the full DL# to their POS system, I've been asked to verbally verify my address and date of birth, etc. I had one FDA tell me they see 1-2 scam attempts per week, so they're doing everything they can to combat it.

kkong42

It most likely won't be making anything any more secure.

"Security" has long been used as an excuse for all kinds of bogus behaviour and policies.

I have come across several properties that have disabled Digital Key issue until after you have presented yourself at reception.

In each case, it seems to be either (1) a local policy initiated by the hotel management or (2) regulatory requirements relating to where the hotel is situated.

Friendly Traveling Deathmerchant

I've had a lot of Vegas properties not have OLCI. I assume this is because the casino (Virgin, in my last instance, DT Trop, etc.) want to make you wait in those huge lobby lines.
Seriously, there' s a lot of fraud in Vegas, so that could be somewhat legit, but... it is the whole point of OLCI, so it's a bummer.

I assume regulatory, as kkong42 mentioned above, but in Europe, and for that matter most of the world, hotels require to see everyone's passport staying in the room upon checkin, so no option there almost always, in my experience. Two stays in Thailand, one in London, a couple in Portugal recently. No OLCI at any properties there.

the810

OLCI is possible at most European properties, but you need to stop by at the front desk to get registered. The only benefit is the ability to choose room (if that sticks, which it often doesn't), and that you then get the digital key if you prefer using it over the physical key. It's a bit ridiculous - I can fly there without anyone caring who I am, but suddenly a hotel stay requires reporting my presence to authorities.

There were two occasions when I didn't have to stop at the front desk in Europe though - one in London and another in Leiden.

kkong42

There is no requirement to show ID / proof of nationality to check into hotels in the UK.

And OLCI and Digital Key issue in advance of visiting the hotel reception is very much the norm for Hilton hotels (which support Digital Key) in the UK.

flyerCO

Aldo I think a lot of these places simply pull from profile. Your passport gets left on file with Hilton IME, just like with airlines. I've gone to many hotels in multiple countries and they always have my passport information without me handing over.

:D!

I've never provided my passport information to Hilton and at European hotels in countries where the government requires a passport to check in, they wouldn't be able to accept a passport number stored in a profile.

For digital keys in the UK, if you declare your nationality as British no further information is requested and it may be the case that the app stores that.

the810

Passport info is taken in the app when you do digital check-in in the UK (of course not applicable to you as a UK citizen), so the functionality is there and it's just an matter of settings on individual markets. Whether it's stored, no idea, I definitely need to re-fill it each time I check-in in the UK. The only time I've had pre-filled passport / ID info on a (physical) registration form was when I returned to a hotel I've stayed before, or if they scanned the passport / ID before printing the form.

Anyway, storing the passport info wouldn't solve the problem in most locations where it's required, since front desk normally must verify it's actually you who's staying. I hope that we'll move towards a more sane legislation over the time.