Hotels Go Keyless

With the advent of mobile check-in, there was only one thing standing between a traveler and his hotel room. He still had to make a stop at the hotel’s lobby desk to pick up a key to his room, which kinda made a mockery of mobile check-in.

Starwood has a solution that undoubtedly will become the industry standard: SPG Keyless, a mobile app that allows a traveler’s smartphone to be used to unlock the hotel room, no key required.

The keyless system uses Bluetooth-enabled door locks capable of recognizing and responding to signals from the guest’s mobile device. And since the code to unlock a door can be issued automatically, when the room becomes available, there’s no need for the guest to stop at the lobby desk. Check-in is, finally, truly mobile.

SPG Keyless will only work with bookings made directly with Starwood. Bookings made through online travel agencies are not supported. The app is available for iPhone 4 and newer phones with iOS8 operating system, and many Android phones.

Today, SPG Keyless can be used in 10 Starwood family hotels. By the end of 2015, all Aloft, Element, and W hotels will launch SPG Keyless. And while Starwood isn’t promising as much, it seems a safe bet that all Starwood brands will eventually be SPG Keyless-capable.

Reader Reality Check

How cool is this?

This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.