Major Security Issue?!?
 

So as often as I have dealt with this, it just dawned on me how serious of a security issue it could really be. Anytime I've lost or forgotten my keycard, I've always been asked to produce identification to receive a new one (a policy which is taught and abided by quite well, kudos for that). However, what I just realized is that all too often (in fact I can't think of a time I've ever been ID'ed on this) when I drop by the front desk to request a late checkout and have to have my card rekeyed, I'm issued to new key with no request for identification at all. In fact the conversation is pretty institutional and usually goes as such:

Me: "I'm in room XXXX and I'd like to see if I can get a X o'clock checkout for tomorrow."
Front Desk Clerk: "Sure do you happen to have your key on you?"
The rekey the card and off I go.

If Marriott Concierge is reading this, you might want to send a note along to Corporate regarding this...

An interesting post - due to some past rather ugly occurrences I am particularly sensitive to hotel security issues. One of the main reasons I am a loyal Marriott fan, and have been for years, is that they were the first chain to pay particular attention to the safety of their women travelers. (OK, I am dating myself here, but there was a day when there were not that many of us :D )

What I think is interesting is that I have never had my key re-keyed when I have asked for a late check-out. Not once. I will have to try it and see what happens - perhaps I have not asked for one recently.

A bigger concern of mine with regards to security (hope you don't mind if I build off your post) is setting up the smoking area right outside the side or back entry doors. (CY, SHS, RI in particular) There are times when those doors are the most convenient to use; but if there is a lone smoker there, I will not do so. If they ask for access as I enter, I would not feel comfortable giving it to them - but I also am not going to ask to see their key! It seems this is an "easy" way to access the building and certainly bypasses the security system of a keyed entry.

I know Marriott doesn't want them standing out front, so am not sure where the correct location should be ....

bulldoggolfer05 - for what it's worth they may be verifying your key in their key system before reissuing with the new dates. Can I tell you all hotels do this before extending your key? Nope! But they do have the ability!

I'll be the first to admit that while I always carded on issuance of a new key, I didn't always check the ID when rekeying for a late checkout. Also, very few times did I check the carding on the key unless the guest came down and said the card wasn't working. I'm sure that occasionally checks are done to insure that it's the correct room, but very rarely do I see this done sadly.

To take advantage of this, one would have to know the room number and be correct on the date of checkout. I think they usually ask at least a name on the room when re-keying at as well. But either way, someone could not just go randomly to the front desk and get a key for XXX room by asking a late checkout. Now if you knew that info about someone and his room, I could see it being a problem, but that would mean an acquaintance would be taking advantage of the situation. Seems a very small risk compared to when a room is being service. See something valuable (laptop, ipod) through the opened door, flash a room key, say you forgot something, and off you go.

Good point. I think many large hotels are aware of this possibility. If I stop by my room while it is being serviced, I've been asked to produce my card key and show it works in the door before being allowed to enter (most recently at the Marriott Marquis in February).

I think this thing although possible is less likely than other possible crimes on site. I will say (and this goes for all chains) that when I come back to the room and the maid is in there, I'm always asked to card my door. Regarding the smokers outside, no biggie to me other than the stench they have. When it comes to the rekey, I think some of the questions they ask you are also geared to identifying you as well. I'm always getting rekeyed for late checkouts and they seem to ask me questions that would verify my ID. IMHO, a thread that probably creates more paranoia than necessary

Knowing enough information to receive a key should the identification procedure be bypassed doesn't necessitate knowing the person. Checkout dates and name are usually confirmed at checkin. And countless times have I overheard a person's room number through conversations they're holding at the front desk, concierge desk, or in the club lounge. Being of sound mind, and not criminally inclined, it goes in one ear and out the other, but it could easily allow for someone access to my room should they so desire. I'm not saying it's an everyday occurrence, but neither are hotel murders, and t it could easily turn into an incident, so with preventative measures being so easy to take, it doesn't make sense to ignore it.

Or they could just rejigger their stupid format so that you do not have to stop by and get the key card recoded.
I get late CO's quite a bit with starwood(till 4 pm-almost NEVER a hassle try that with MI properties)-never told to have my key card recoded.

Double post

I'm a big fan of the chip embedded key cards making their debut at select [non-Marriott] properties in Las Vegas where once issued, you never have to stop back by the front desk again. Don't like the room you're assigned? Call down, and instantly the coding on your key is changed to the new room. RFID technology I believe.

Which can be abused pretty easily. You can get a reader/writer (USB on your laptop) and some cards pretty cheaply... A lot of access control and public transport systems have already proven to be pretty vulnerable to those type of "attacks". A more sophisticated card usually is just a tad bit more expensive, but when dealing with thousands of cards it can add up...

Well the Wynn (which currently utilizes this technology) and Project City Center (which will utillize it) both have virtually endless budgets anyways so money is of no object here...

Hello,

I have sent this thread to corporate for you, so that they are aware of your concerns.

Kind regards,

Marie

Quote:

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Hello, I have sent this thread to corporate for you, so that they are aware of your concerns

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Thank you Marie. Hope you deleted all of the "family squabbling" so that corporate can actually understand the concerns and not have to deal with, well, ummm, you know, the stuff YOU have to read through to get to our concerns. :eek: