By HTN Staff - 10.22.2021
Hilton has unveiled a series of technology innovations designed to enhance the guest experience across the company’s 18 hotel brands. In a first for a major hospitality company, a new technology-enabled capability, dubbed Digital Key Share, will allow more than one guest to have access to their room’s digital key, which turns the Hilton Honors app on their smartphones into a room key.
Since its 2015 launch, guest usage of Hilton’s digital key has expanded rapidly. The technology is now reportedly available at more than 80% of Hilton’s portfolio, or close to 5,400 of Hilton’s more than 6,600 properties worldwide. According to the company, it has been used to open more than 135 million guestroom doors, and has reduced plastic waste by 125 tons, furthering Hilton’s “Travel with Purpose” commitment to cut its environmental footprint in half by 2030.
In the coming months, according to a company press statement, Digital Key Share will roll out globally to all hotels currently offering digital key technology.
The primary guest can share their active digital key with up to four additional people or devices from the Hilton Honors app. For the secondary guest to gain access to the digital key, they must receive an invitation from the primary guest, be logged into the Hilton Honors app and pass a security check that happens instantly in the background. Guests who accept a share will have access to the room and property throughout the duration of the stay and, for security purposes, cannot further share the digital key.
Hilton also rolled out another enhancement to a Hilton Honors benefit: providing members with early confirmation of complimentary room upgrades. Eligible Gold and Diamond Hilton Honors members will be notified of their space-available upgrade 72 hours prior to arrival, enabling the member to choose their upgraded room directly when they check in via the Hilton Honors app. Eligible members will receive an email and a Hilton Honors app push notification alerting them of their complimentary upgraded room. Once received, if the hotel offers digital check-in, the member can easily choose the location of their upgraded room through the app 36 hours prior to arrival.
These two enhancements join the recently launched Confirmed Connecting Rooms, another industry first that allows individuals to easily and instantly confirm at least two connecting rooms at the time of booking. This technology is rolling out globally and is available when booking on Hilton.com or through the Hilton Honors app at participating hotels within any of the portfolio’s 18 brands.
“Our approach to technology always starts with the guest experience, and as travel returns, we are pleased to provide Hilton guests with enhancements to their stay that are seamless, flexible and allow them to focus on what matters most – creating new memories,” said Chris Silcock, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Hilton, in a press statement.