Open hotel rooms with your iPhone? It’s now possible (at one hotel)
iPhone and Apple Watch users can now open hotel rooms with their devices. Provided they happen to stay overnight at the Hyatt hotel, that is.
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Save your room key in the Wallet app from now on
Have you ever lost your hotel room access card? Apple announced a digital key function during WWDC 2021, which allows you to unlock your hotel room with your iPhone or Apple Watch. Of course, this requires the cooperation of hotels, resorts and holiday parks. The American Hyatt hotel is the first hotel chain to support Apple’s digital key function.
Immediately after making a reservation at the Hyatt hotel, you will be sent a key, which you can put in your Wallet app. This only works from your check-in time. After arrival, bring your Apple Watch or your iPhone to the NFC receiver, where you normally hold your room access card. This is often right next to your hotel door. You will then hear a light ‘click’ and the door will unlock.
The digital key function is currently working at 6 branches of the Hyatt hotel. These locations are: Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa, Hyatt House Chicago/West Loop-Fulton Market, Hyatt House Dallas/Richardson, Hyatt Place Fremont/Silicon Valley, and Hyatt Regency Long Beach.
No need for Face ID or Touch ID
You do not need authentication with Face ID or Touch ID to use the digital key. You don’t even have to open the Wallet app. You simply hold your iPhone or your Apple Watch against the NFC receiver and Apple does the rest. Also useful to know: digital keys will work in battery saving mode and if your iPhone or Apple Watch is about to fail.
The digital key function is still limited available, but this is expected to change soon. Now that the Hyatt hotel has officially kicked off the feature, other hotels are likely to follow suit soon.
What do you think of Apple’s new digital keys? And if you happen to have a reservation at the Hyatt hotel, be sure to let us know if the feature works well. Do you also want to always be aware of the latest Apple news? Please sign up for our daily/weekly newsletter. In addition, download the free iPhoned app and keep an eye on our website.
