Hotel Door Locks
When traveling for work or with your family on vacation, you want to feel safe and secure. A reliable hotel door lock can make you feel better protected from intruders and unwanted guests.
When choosing hotel lock hardware and software, look for quality and a good reputation from manufacturers. You also want to ensure that if something goes wrong with your hotel door locks during their lifespan, they will be quick and easy to fix.
1. Keyless Entry Systems
Keyless Entry systems eliminate the need for a traditional lock and key, allowing users to open the door with a code or app. These systems are easy to use and can increase guest comfort and autonomy. hotel door locks However, they can also be costly to maintain and install as well as pose data security risks.
Some digital locks require a PIN to be entered on a hotel room’s keypad. These are generally a better choice because they provide a higher level of security. They can be configured to prevent the entry of unauthorized persons and can also record the time of each entry. However, it is important to note that these types of locks are susceptible to power outages, so they should be backed up with another source of power.
Other models, such as the Salto KS lock, are compatible with smartphones and can be used to access hotel rooms. In order to use these locks, guests will need to download the HotelFriend Concierge or Salto KS app, receive a reservation pin by email and then log in via their smartphone to activate the lock.
2. Magnetic Key Cards
Magnetic Key Cards have been the staple in hotel door lock access control systems for a long time. Guests simply swipe or tap their Key Card in a reader at the front desk to gain access to their room.
When a guest swipes or inserts their hotel key card, a small sensor decodes the black strip on the card and transmits the information to the hotel’s system for verification. If the hotel guest’s reservation matches up with what is stored in the system, a signal is sent to the lock to unlock it.
The magnetic stripe on the hotel key card is made up of semi-conducting magnetic material that can be magnetized and demagnetized with electromagnets. When a guest checks out, their Key Card is wiped so that the magnetic signature is removed. This is done to remove any previous room access and reactivate it for the next guest’s use.
Magnetic key cards can be hardwired to a hotel’s system or they can connect wirelessly. When connected to a hotel’s system they can provide real-time data and if it is a smart BLE lock, it can even enable mobile check-in and remote access for staff and management.
3. Keypads
When guests check into a hotel room they want to feel safe and secure. But the right door lock systems can help or hinder this goal. Traditional locks that rely on magnetic stripe cards or keys are prone to wear and tear, making them more vulnerable to break-ins. Newer electronic hotel locks utilizing RFID technology, Pin Code Locks or Bluetooth (BLE) are more secure and convenient for both guests and staff.
A mobile hotel door lock can be opened from anywhere, providing security and convenience for your hotel’s guestrooms, amenity areas, and even exterior doors. A PIN code lock allows guests to open their rooms using a numerical keypad, eliminating the need for an access item like a card or smartphone. Some systems integrate with property management software to allow guest’s codes to be changed remotely. Easily installable on nearly any inward-swinging door, this travel door lock is perfect for hotels, vacation rentals and other unattended establishments. It even comes with a convenient carrying pouch! TESA’s MT RFID is an ideal solution for retrofitting older hotel doors with contactless and mobile technology.
4. Strike Plates
While most people may never think about it, a door strike plate is one of the most important parts of any door lock. Essentially, a strike plate is the metal piece that installs on a doorjamb with holes for the latch or bolt of the deadbolt. It reinforces the door frame and offers additional security against forced entry or kick-ins.
The standard full lip strike plate works fine on most doors, but if you have thicker hotel door locks or decorative casing around the trim, the standard strike plate will gouge and scuff up your doorframe. If you’re looking to upgrade your security without having to rip out the trim and replace it, consider an extended lip strike plate that’s easy to install on newer jambs.
Shaped like a T and increasingly popular for how seamlessly they fit on the door, these strike plates have rounded corners and offer increased durability without looking overly militaristic. They also work well with most types of locks and are easier to clean. They’re often a good fit for residential homes or small businesses.
5. Deadbolts
A deadbolt is a strong metal component that fits into the door frame and reinforces the bolt. It can be especially useful if a guest’s key card fails to unlock the door, or if a door jamb or frame is weakened by excessive force.
Guests can often get locked out of their hotel rooms by magstripe locks that aren’t secure enough. They may need to return to the front desk to have their keycards reactivated, or they may find themselves unable to lock the door at all.
Whether you own a hotel, resort or vacation rental, you can provide your guests with peace of mind by upgrading to a more secure system that’s connected to other features of your property. A platform like Operto Connect can allow you to monitor and manage your hotel’s smart locks, energy-saving measures and noise monitoring, from a central control room. Then you can keep up with your guests’ needs and respond quickly to any issues that arise. Even more, you can prevent guests from stealing your property by connecting their smartphones to the system.
