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A new video shows the process of using a digital room key stored in Apple Wallet, but don’t expect to be able to open your hotel room door with it iPhone everywhere only.
The 56-second clip, posted to YouTube Tuesday by tech reporter Rich DeMuro, details the process of adding a Hyatt room key to Wallet on an iPhone. It also shows the use of this digital key to unlock floor access and an actual hotel room
Express mode, enabled by default, also allows users to unlock their hotel room simply by holding their iPhone near the appropriate smart lock without unlocking the device.
Apple’s first extensive room key support its WWDC 2021 event. In December 2021, Hyatt – the hotel pictured in the clip – began rolling out support for the function at six hotel locations in Illinois, Florida, Hawaii, Texas and California.
Although many hotel chains use digital room keys attached to their own apps, Hyatt is the first company to support Apple Wallet.
Don’t expect to unlock your rooms with an iPhone or Apple watch soon at every hotel chain. For most hotels, implementing the system requires a major infrastructure upgrade. As of this writing, no hotel other than Hyatt has even signaled plans to support room key functionality.
