Mobile Apps Usage a Focus of New Lodging Survey

Repurposing mobile devices as room keys has more than doubled in popularity, and mobile device check-in remains on-trend with participation from more than 80 percent of all mid-price and higher segment properties.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has released the results of its Lodging Survey, a detailed assessment of advancements in amenities, guest services, sustainability and technology, in addition to other industry trends.

The 2018 Lodging Survey was commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation and conducted by STR, Inc. Every two years, all United States’ hotels (with 10 or more rooms) are invited to participate in the survey and are asked a variety of questions about their guest services and amenities.

Among the survey’s hotel technology-related research findings:

More guests than ever before are using apps to access hotel services. Repurposing mobile devices as room keys has more than doubled in popularity, and mobile device check-in remains on-trend with participation from more than 80 percent of all mid-price and higher segment properties.

  • Using mobile apps to access hotel services is more popular than it has ever been, up from 35% in 2016 to 40% in 2018
  • Hotels’ use of mobile devices as room keys had a sizable two-year increase, moving from 6% in 2016 to 17% in 2018
  • Mobile device check-in is definitely an “in” trend among midprice or higher price segments (all 80%+)

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