DrJTravel

Was wondering if there’s any DC area Marriott hotels with contact less (app) check in now?

Kacee

Does Marriott ever offer a digital key? You may need to book Hilton to do this.

DrJTravel

I thought Marriott was working towards it for covid times?

Flying for Fun

I am sure you are jesting! They certainly do! I was in New Orleans last weekend and the digital key worked flawlessly.

James

Jon Maiman

While I typically don't use digital keys (have once as a backup at a property that was having trouble with physical keys), many if not most properties from FI's to Full Service offer digital keys. Not sure if you still have to physically check in to get the digital key activated (e.g. electronic check in may not be sufficient).

--Jon

Kacee

No I am not jesting. I've never had true digital key availability at any Marriott property.

By contrast, it is ubiquitous with Hilton. I'm not a big Hilton fan, but this is one area where they are far ahead of all others. You can also select your room from the property map via their App. You can easily do an entire stay without ever having to interact in person with the front desk or any other staff.

HHonors OUTSIDER

It is interesting that you say “Not sure if you still have to physically check in” Last year I stayed at 2 Courtyards in the USA and used the online check in through the app requesting the mobile key. Both never sent me the mobile key and when at the front desk one want to swipe the credit card and the other wanted ID and to swipe the credit card. I declined to provide anything after which they both sent me the mobile key and the mobile keys did work. Not sure why the system doesn’t work better as Kacee mentions Hilton is light years ahead. At Hilton even before the mobile key when you check in online you show up give your name and they hand you the keys.

JBKettle

What's missing on the Marriott side is the requirements to get a digital key, whether globally via MI or with individual properties. I'm not sure if they are conscious decisions or ignorance/failure on the part of individual team members, but the lack of consistency -even over time at the same property- is maddening. True digital key at Marriott is definitely possible, just horribly inconsistent.

Jon Maiman

Good to know. The one time I used digital keys, I had already checked in and had physical keys. The problem was most of them didn't work (needed 3 of them to cover my family). After multiple failed attempts to issue more working physical keys, the property suggested using a digital key as a fallback. They said they were having trouble encoding physical keys due to issues with their room management software. After the front desk associate said the digital key was active, it actually took until the next morning before I could use it. I suspect another bug in their room management software and/or lack of proper staff training accounted for the delay. It was a relatively new property (less than a year old).

--Jon

cmd320

I've honestly never tried the digital key with Marriott, but I've seen the marketing for it numerous times.

I'm not a big online check-in fan for Marriott, it's hard to see what benefit this offers and definitely feels like a great way to guarantee that you'll not be getting an upgrade. In contrast I do like Hilton OLCI because they offer the ability to select your room. I also have used the digital key with Hilton too and it was fine, though feels a bit gimmicky to me. I can pull out a room key more easily than I can pull out my phone, unlock it, find the key in passbook, etc.

ohmark

On a recent road trip, checked in with the app and received mobile key at a newish Fairfield Inn in Gainesville FL. Worked flawlessly. No stop at the front desk necessary.

But at an older Springhill Suites in Knoxville TN, checked in with app; mobile key was not an option. Even in the days of Covid, and even after mobile check-in, the Springhill required in-person checkin with full presentation of ID to the clerk, before the clerk passed over the packet with room keys. I posted a review on the Marriott site of the Springhill and negatively mentioned the checkin experience. The GM emailed a reply that said, essentially, that someday maybe they would have mobile key if/when they upgraded their technology, but their policy for now was you had to come into the lobby and physically checkin at the front desk with presentation of ID, whether or not you used mobile checkin. The GM said this was the way it was, because that was their policy--period.

Guess which of the two properties we will not be going back to?

myperks

what does true digital key availability mean? It’s either they have digital key or not. It may be that you need to stop by the desk to activate it (mostly at non-US hotels that I’ve been to). Almost all properties that I’ve been to have digital key if they use RFID keys to begin with.

true digital checkin, yes, Hilton is way ahead.