In the hospitality industry, access management is crucial for commercial success. It contributes to guest satisfaction and a solid reputation for those in the hospitality business. Effective access management can greatly benefit hotels. For one, electronic locks and mobile access technology provide seamless room entry and enhanced security for guests. The access management software accompanying these mechanisms speeds up the check-in and checkout process, making it more convenient for guests and improving their experience. Additionally, efficient access management means more time for front desk staff to attend to vital guest needs.

Given these benefits, how can hotels use access management to their advantage? These three hotels found ways to make access management work for them.

Hotel Cristall: Combining comfort and convenience

As a cultural hub, Cologne is awash with galleries and museums. This German metropolitan area houses 12 Romanesque churches exemplifying medieval architecture, and the renowned Cologne Cathedral—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is a beloved landmark. The city also hosts festive Christmas markets, as well as the annual Cologne Carnival, one of Europe’s largest street festivals.

In the heart of Cologne is Hotel Cristall, only a 5-minute walk from the Cologne Cathedral, the main railway station, and major shopping areas. This boutique hotel offers over 90 rooms with warm hues, ample lighting, and custom-made furniture.

Toni Rübsteck, project leader and in-house technician at Hotel Cristall, set out to update the hotel’s outdated master key system. “We were looking for a convenient, reliable system that would require us to make as few modifications to our doors as possible,” said Rübsteck.

Hotel Cristall chose an access management system based on RFID technology, with soft lines and a clean aesthetic. As the system is a self-contained unit without exposed electronics, it can be installed on the existing lock on the outside of the door. “The system has worked perfectly from the beginning, with daily operations going on as usual,” Rübsteck said. Guests now use access cards to easily unlock their room door, ensuring comfort and convenience.

Scandic Hotels: World-class excellence

Stretching across 14 islands and connected by over 50 bridges, the Swedish capital of Stockholm is rich in culture and history. Travelers can walk the cobbled streets and winding paths of Old Town, or visit any of the city’s various museums, including one dedicated to pop group ABBA and the Vasa Museum housing a fully intact, seventeenth-century ship.

With 26 hotels around Stockholm, the Scandic Hotels Group has something for every traveler. Visitors can choose from hotels within walking distance of the city center’s many restaurants, shops, and theaters, or stay in one located in a more peaceful area, away from the city buzz.

Haymarket by Scandic channels 1920s flair, while Scandic Foresta’s castle on the cliff is reminiscent of old-world elegance. Scandic Grand Central is a New York-inspired hotel complete with its own theater to host concerts, cultural performances, and film premieres. Meanwhile, Downtown Camper by Scandic exudes a no-frills yet urban vibe, with window nooks, communal social areas for connecting rooms, and activity rooms and creative spaces in place of traditional meeting and conference rooms.

Adding to the contemporary vibe at the Scandic Hotels in Stockholm are mobile-enabled RFID hotel locks for guest rooms. Instead of physical keys or access cards, front desk staff issue digital keys to a guest’s smartphone. With the help of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, a guest can use their smartphone to enter their room directly, eliminating the need to check in at reception. It’s convenient, reliable, and secure—living up to the high standards of Scandic Hotels.

The Townsend Hotel: Luxury at its finest

European elegance doesn’t always have to be limited to Europe, as evidenced by the award-winning Townsend Hotelin the Great Lake State of Michigan in the United States. Situated in the heart of Birmingham, this luxury hotel features 150 guest rooms that come with plush linens, an in-room refreshment center, and evening turndown service.

Guests can enjoy afternoon tea—loose-rolled teas served with scones, finger sandwiches, and pastries—in the tea lobby adorned with crystal chandeliers and mahogany wood accents, or they can drop by the many parks surrounding Birmingham’s walkable community. Nature lovers can visit the nearby scenic lakes that make up over 11,000 inland lakes in Michigan.

Part of the Townsend Hotel’s luxury offerings are the RFID hotel locks for each room. With a sleek look and tamper-proof design, these locks combine style and security. They’re also BLE-capable, allowing hotel staff to issue digital keys and enabling guests to use their mobile devices as their room key. It’s comfort and convenience at its best.