Hospitality

Covid-19 is accelerating the adoption of digital of automation in the hotel industry. The Corona crisis is not so much disruptive when it comes to digitization the hospitality operations and guest experience. Its impact has immediately become visible in hospitality technology, varying from automatic check-in solutions to digital key. To reduce the spread of germs in hotels is to give guests the option of automatic check-in, to deliver contactless service – including touch-less check-in and check-out – and ongoing help as needed. SALTO is compatible with many self-check-in kiosks and technology partners to deliver automation solutions that allow guests to control when and how they check-in. Automated services and self-service technologies in times of social distancing and integrating self-check-in technology into service operations helps address some of the issues around staff safety and new guest access to help practice effective social distancing. With sanitation now more of a priority than ever for hotels, we could see further investment in this type of technology after Covid-19. At the same time, automation does not necessarily result in the elimination of human roles, but rather, the shifting of resources to other areas.

Delivering multichannel self-service, automatic check-in and digital key is the future in the hotel industry. Major hotel chains are transitioning to “digital keys” and has introduced contactless check-in and check-outs which allow you to check-in and out (and pay your bill) via your mobile phone.

SALTO technology partnership examples with Roomatik, Hotel Bird, Myra, Nonius, Ariane, and StayNtouch solutions are fully compatible and integrated with SALTO’s hospitality platform, ProAccess SPACE front-desk management software. The SALTO platform can also be connected to an existing PMS or Channel Manager. Smart check-in kiosks are suitable for any SALTO installation and are compatible with any existing room key technology.

SALTO Hospitality solutions – together with trusted technology partners – are about bringing better security and usability to both guests and hotel operators. Guests gain convenience without sacrificing security and facility managers distinguish their property with cost-effective solutions that clients truly value.

COVID-19 and Hospitality Challenge: Re-define your hotel technology and guest experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we conduct business and perhaps no other industry has been impacted as significantly as the hospitality industry. SALTO Systems has a variety of methods to help hospitality improve hygiene with solutions like automatic check-in and mobile access and the inclusion of antimicrobial technology into the surface of our locks and products.

Moving forward post-COVID-19, hotels and lodging will have to make many adjustments to try to adapt their properties to the new security and hygienic requirements. Guests will never see some of the biggest changes happening in the hotel industry, which begin with digitalization, stringent employee safety and sanitation training.SALTO’s commitment to collaborate with the hospitality industry, our work with leading integration partners, and our commitment to technology mean we are well equipped to help the hospitality industry comply with their commitment to providing a healthy and safe environment for their guests.

Practising social distancing and upholding hygiene levels are being prioritized more than ever before in Hospitality. The surface area exposure we encounter from the mundane task of opening a door can be the factor which puts us at risk. With smart locks, one could drastically reduce this risk by using Mobile Key and remote check-in, for instance. Now, we dive into a new layer of protection - BioCote® antimicrobial coated technology.

For nearly a decade, SALTO, in partnership with BioCote® – the market-leading antimicrobial technology supplier – has incorporated antimicrobial silver ion technology in its smart electronic lock range, electronic cylinders, locker locks, and supporting devices like wall readers. The addition of BioCote’s antimicrobial technology helps reduce microbes on product surfaces and improves hygienic building environments and ultimately creates a cleaner environment for both hotel employees and guests. SALTO locks with BioCote® have very positive implications for an important market like hospitality as it can reduce the spread of germs in a variety of locations within a property.

BioCote® is an antimicrobial agent that contains silver-ions which are engineered to provide continuous, built-in protection on SALTO product surfaces and hardware devices like the XS4 smart door lock range, electronic cylinders, locker locks, or wall readers. It works by binding with microbes and damaging their cells in a number of ways, disrupting their normal functions and preventing them from reproducing.

The finish of BioCote®-treated smart door lock hardware differs slightly from that of standard-finish escutcheons due to the mix of lacquer and silver ion particles. Within wall readers, locker locks, and lock readers, it is invisible. The finish is long-lasting and maintains its antimicrobial performance well over the expected lifetime of the escutcheon.

By introducing BioCote® antimicrobial technology, SALTO helps to support a cleaner, and more hygienic environment. This is of particular importance in any public or shared space setting by improving the hygiene of common touchpoints and helping to prevent cross-contamination of microbes.

Download the white paper to learn more about the use of BioCote® antimicrobial technology by clicking here.

SALTO Systems has released the SALTO Neo Cylinder – a new electronic cylinder that offers more features and better functionality than any other cylinder on the market to be used to manage all back-of-house doors used by staff, visitors and suppliers.

The compact SALTO Neo Cylinder is designed for doors where fitting an electronic escutcheon is not possible or required and can be installed on back-of-house doors, server racks, gates, cabinets, electric switches, sliding doors and more ensuring peace of mind for everyone who legitimately accesses a property. It’s available in an extensive range of models to suit almost any kind of door – from Europe to ASIA to the Americas.

The SALTO Neo Cylinder provides the most efficient and convenient way of securing your property and assets giving hotels the highest levels of comfort, ease and control, with an established fully integrated hospitality access control solution that allows running the hotel smoothly and securely, both in terms of cost and efficiency.

The re-engineered clutch system design makes efficient use of energy, dropping consumption to impressively low levels resulting in 100,000 / 130,000 cycles with just one set of batteries. System standby power consumption is reduced, which extends the electronic cylinder’s battery life.

The SALTO Neo Cylinder offers value far beyond security. Of course, upgrading a mechanical back-of-house and guest services doors to electronic access control enhances security, but the SALTO Neo Cylinder provides greater control over the door by offering end-users (guest and staff) access to audit trails, reports, alerts and so much more.

Because the SALTO Neo Cylinder is compatible with SALTO SVN, SALTO BLUEnet Wireless and SALTO JustIN Mobile technology is onboard every cylinder. This gives users and front-desk operators the capability to send or receive a mobile key to open any door or gate with an installed SALTO Neo Cylinder with their iOS or Android Bluetooth or NFC-enabled smartphone. This adds incredible convenience and efficiency for end-users in the field which is where a SALTO Neo Cylinder would most likely be used.

The SALTO Neo Cylinder adds SALTO SVN-Flex technology, which increases the potential, efficiency and reliability of the SALTO SVN, yielding better security, control and convenience for users and sites. SVN-Flex is managed via SALTO’s ProAccess SPACE front desk management web-based software. It dramatically reduces the cost of installing additional updating points in an access control system yet provides the capability of adding updating points where required. The options for affordable updating points are endless: perimetral doors, emergency exits, hall doors, gates equipped with mechanical cylinders and much more.

To find out more about the new SALTO Neo cylinder and how it is powered to do it all by visiting its dedicated microsite, download e-book on the product or watch a short video by using the following link:

http://saltoneo.saltosystems.com/

SALTO, a leading manufacturer of electronic access control systems for the hospitality industry and Hudini, the leading digital transformation platform that connects all three stages of the hospitality guest journey today announced the integration of the Hudini Guest Engagement Suite with SALTO electronic hotel locks to devise a world-class access control system that is simple to use and extremely efficient. The integration gives users the ability to control all their access needs and secure their doors through the Hudini Platform resulting in a pioneering partnership to provide a complete no touch, low touch, hygienic electronic access control solution for hotels and guests to use via the Hudini digital guest engagement solution.

This partnership allows our hospitality customers across the globe the power to provide their guests with a safe, low contact way to enter their hotel rooms and facilities. In these health-conscious times, a SALTO and Hudini partnership enables hotels to provide guests with a digital keyless solution that helps maintain high standards of health, hygiene, and cleanliness across their properties via a multi-device accessible solution that delivers a truly unique and personalized connected experience.

The newly-integrated hospitality solution provides guests and hotel staff with enhanced levels of personal health, hygiene, and security needed to access hotel rooms and services using their own or the hotel’s devices – including tablets and smartphones. On top of enhancing the digital guest experience and improving room and facilities access for all hotel guests and employees, this combined offering provides a single application for keyless entry.

“The post-COVID world will demand cleaner and safer accommodation for hotel guests as well as a controlled and safe working environment for team members,” said Prince Thampi, Hudini Chief Executive Officer. “To help our clients deliver these services in a post-COVID world, we have been working closely with SALTO on ways in which Hudini can play a role in helping provide a safe and secure environment. By design, Hudini is a digital low touch, contactless platform that enables the delivery of enhanced levels of guest services enabling guests to work, rest, and play while staying in hotels, and now with the addition of a world-leading keyless entry partnership with SALTO, Hudini provides a safer, contactless way for guests to access their rooms and hotel facilities. A combined Hudini and SALTO offering connects hotels and guests digitally in this low touch, low contact, socially-distanced world enabling hotels to continue to invest in ways in which to make their properties a safer, more secure, and protected environment.”

MAIN FEATURES:

Security is one of the most important factors in a locker room, as they are primarily designed to store items and valuables safely while people exercise, undergo spa treatments, work, or use other facility amenities. When considering a locker lock solution, you'll need to consider security, convenience, effective management, and ultimately what is best for your guest experience and property operations.

The growing popularity of mobile engagement with hotel guests can be seen through keyless smart access. Guests can now use their phones as digital room keys, to call an Uber, or use Google Maps — all within the hotel app. Some hotels also include a mobile requests feature within their apps so guests can request amenities or ask questions. The establishments themselves also contact guests via the app or text messaging to inquire about arrival times and any other needs guests may have prior to arrival.

With the SALTO XS4 Locker Lock, smart access technology is expanded to locker rooms which adds both ease and efficiency to the whole guest digital experience, from checking in to checking out. The capability of effectively extending real-time, online, and mobile-enabled smart electronic access control to lockers and cabinets has eluded the hospitality market – until now. By incorporating BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) technology into their latest electronic locker lock, SALTO has delivered a product that extends up-to-date comprehensive electronic access control to lockers, cabinets, and essentially anywhere on the peripheral.

The ability to deliver real-time smart access to locker rooms and cabinets wirelessly – and to link it to guest services – has been long desired in the hospitality industry. Hotel management has desired the capability to build the guest experience and to provide personalized service and extensive hotel amenities. There are a variety of needs for securing the contents of lockers and while SALTO has been a leader in providing electronic access control for lockers with the original XS4 Locker Lock, the new version adds BLE functionality which is a game-changer.

Adding BLE capabilities to SALTO’s XS4 Locker Lock solution not only offers the most up-to-date protection for lockers and cabinets, it also delivers the capability for guests and staff members to control these devices with mobile phones as a technology feature for hotels to take advantage of and to optimize guest satisfaction.
 

Keyless and mobile access to locker locks creates a more seamless and secure stay

SALTO XS4 Locker Locks are highly durable and have been constructed to withstand the unique environments often found in locker rooms. Security, hygiene, and cleanliness are such a crucial element in the maintenance of locker room spaces. Locker locks allow access to space underneath lockers, ensuring your whole floor space can be cleaned thoroughly and to an immaculate standard.

The SALTO XS4 Locker BLE is an ergonomic design based on the same housing and mechanical mechanisms of the original version. A locking thumb turn makes for easy use – even with wet hands. The outer thumb turn – with a red and green indicator for the availability of the locker – has an electronically-managed release. Ready-to-install into pre-existing doors, the XS4 Locker Lock BLE is designed to be the ideal product for the replacement locker lock and can be used to quickly secure any pre-existing cabinet.

And in an era where contagious viruses and bacteria dominate the headlines, it’s impressive that the XS4 Locker BLE comes standard with BioCote® Antimicrobial Technology that can reduce bacteria and viruses by up to 99.99%.
 

Mobile Technology helps automate and optimize the hotel guest experience

One of the primary benefits of a smart electronic access control solution is the ability to easily incorporate mobile access use. The SALTO XS4 Locker Lock BLE is JustIN Mobile compatible which means that any guest can use a smartphone (IOS or Android) to operate the locker lock.

Hotels can now take advantage of all the features mobile can offer. Being able to check-in and out, unlock a guest room, order room service, and make amenity bookings are all actions guests will be thrilled to perform via the guest mobile phone application. Adding JustIN mobile functionality to a locker lock means adding more features that can be conducted over the phone network, like updating credentials; blacklist transmission; automatic audit trail collection; and automatic battery status collection.
 

Guest experience goes to a new level with mobile-enabled smart Locker Lock technology

Platform management systems including SALTO ProAccess SPACE front-desk management software are equally as important as the hardware component of the new SALTO XS4 Locker BLE. ProAccess SPACE advanced hospitality web-based access control management software provides hotel operators with the real-time view of locker usage with available reports and log files of each individual smart locker deployment, the ability to control lockers remotely, firmware update capability via wireless infrastructure, remote locker opening, emergency opening, lockdown capability, and the ability to easily control all access and building user management needs with one easy-to-use system and friendly user interface. This safe and secure management is fully compliant with GDPR standards.

The SALTO XS4 Locker with embedded BLE technology and system features make this product an excellent solution for hotels that require a locking solution for a controlled, easy-to-operate, and fully-integrated mobile access technology system that improves the guest experience and property operations.

Learn more about SALTO XS4 Locker >

SALTO donates specially designed smart cards for Hotels transforming properties to fight COVID-19.

Now more than ever, we are with you! That’s the message SALTO sends to hotel properties across the world transforming their facilities from business and pleasure to makeshift healthcare lodging for COVID-19 patients who are no longer critical but who continue to need medical care.

Even though the hospitality industry has been hit very hard economically by the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, they have offered up their facilities to help healthcare providers free up space for more critical patients by taking in these convalescing guests. In order to honour those in the hospitality industry that have shared their facilities for this purpose, SALTO has designed a new smartcard that says, “Now more than ever, we are with you” and has delivered them free of charge to several hotels that use SALTO’s electronic access control solutions.

Pictured are the new SALTO “Now more than ever, we are with you”-themed cards in use at the RoomMate Gorka Hotel in San Sebastian, Spain. The RoomMate Gorka Hotel in San Sebastian uses SALTO’s Ælement Fusion electronic locks.

SALTO supports those in the hospitality industry hit hard by the COVID-19 virus. We hope that those affected by the virus recover both physically and economically.

At SALTO Systems, we’ve always invested in research and development to continually refine and improve our solutions. One of the key areas that we devote a lot of time and energy to is in developing integrations with other technology partners. This allows us to combine and incorporate other leading technology with our products, which results in transforming hospitality for the better by providing innovative products and services to properties across the globe. This teamwork improves the guest experience, hotel management operations, and optimises security for hotel properties.
 

Hotel and hospitality guests today expect automation and solutions that allow them to control when and how they check-in, check-out, and access a guest room. By delivering, together with Roommatik self-check-in kiosks, a comprehensive range of self-check-in machines for all types of accommodation facilities, SALTO helps improve and streamline operations while also boosting overall customer service that gives guests more control over their stay and experience. Self-check-in has one of the greatest advantages going for it – guests have the power to choose when they use it and at their convenience.
 

Self-services in hotels – in terms of automated check-in, checkout, secure payment, etc. – leave more opportunity for human interactions and provide your guests with a hotel experience they value and want to repeat by facilitating their check-in experience without sacrificing their security and comfort.
 

Self-service is also timely: automated services and self-service technologies in times of social distancing, and integrating self-check-in technology into service operations, could help address some of the issues around staff safety and new guest access to help practice effective social distancing.
 

To simplify the check-in process through automation, deliver the digital experience, and improve guest relations, the Roommatik solution is fully compatible and integrated with the SALTO Hospitality platform: ProAccess SPACE front-desk management software. It can also be connected to your existing PMS or Channel Manager. The Roommatik and SALTO integration makes it possible to completely automate the check-in process, meeting all country-specific legal requirements. Many actions are now available from within the integration: retrieve reservation data, scan the guest’s ID documents, sign the registration form, accept credit card or cash payment, and issue the room key.
 

The SALTO Hospitality technology partnership with the Roomatik guest self-check-in solution allows hotels to simplify processes such as check-in and check-out and enables an overall digital experience. Roommatik check-in kiosks are suitable for any SALTO installation and are compatible with any existing room key technology.

Roommatik self-check-in kiosk features:

• Completely unattended check-in.
• Get the physical smart room key in less than a minute.
• Possibility of issuing more than one card. A copy for a family member, for example.
• Possibility to send a mobile key to the guest’s smartphone.
• 24/7 open reception desk.
• Avoid the queues and improve your guest first impression.
• 24/7 cross-selling or upselling operations.
• Let your guest check-in in their own language. Kiosks support 15 different languages.
• Maintains social distance.
• Control the kiosk remotely. The Roommatik IoT platform allows remote operation to take control in assisting guests, remotely issuing a room key, gathering information, etc.
• Integrates with SALTO ProAccess SPACE front desk management software and SALTO Systems' complete smart door locking range – door locks, wall readers, electronic cylinders, and smart locker locks.

SALTO Hospitality solutions – together with trusted technology partners – are about bringing better security and usability to both guests and hotel operators. Guests gain convenience without sacrificing security and facility managers distinguish their property with cost-effective solutions that clients truly value.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the hospitality industry has been hit especially hard as no one is booking hotel rooms or holding conferences. But solidarity during this trying time has released an inspiring movement. Hotels and convention centers are offering their facilities to serve as makeshift healthcare lodging for patients who are no longer critical, but who continue to need medical care. This provides much-needed relief for public and private hospitals, allowing them to increase capacity and focus on more critical patients as the outbreak grows.

Separating the seriously ill from those with lesser ailments, and confining the latter in medicalized hotels and other facilities converted into temporary hospitals under medical supervision, has been one of the key adjustments made in China to deal with the coronavirus epidemic and alleviate the emergency services of hospitals, according to experts and doctors.

The so-called 'Noah's coffers' in China are beginning to be launched now in certain regions of Spain, Italy, the UK, and the US to provide care for mild patients who right now cannot continue to be cared for or remain in quarantine in overrun public health service facilities. These are hotel properties with certain sanitary support where patients who have already passed the most complicated phase of the disease, after five to seven days of hospitalization, will be able to be transferred to quarantine under the supervision of doctors and nurses. This allows government health policies to make hospital beds more available so that more serious patients can enter the hospitals. Medicalized hotels will allow hospitals to focus care on critically ill patients which represent approximately 30% of all confirmed cases in these countries.

In addition, over 300 hotels in Spain have reconverted their activity to offer healthcare services to both patients and professionals. Regarding medical professionals, hotels are also allowing them to stay in their properties since many healthcare providers are visiting from other parts of the country to provide care or live in the region but prefer this alternative to avoid exposing family members or housemates to the contagion if they were to return home after each shift.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting 209 countries and territories around the world. Currently, there is no approved treatment for COVID-19, but those who are infected can recover with the appropriate care that treats and relieves symptoms. Importantly, recovering from COVID-19 doesn't mean that a patient immediately returns to feeling healthy which is why these hospitality conversions are needed and greatly appreciated. But among the chaos, society and teams of scientists are working to tackle the killer bug – heroic medics are working tirelessly to help others and people are recovering in huge numbers!

China has closed down its last coronavirus hospital because there are not enough new cases to support them. Researchers from several institutes, including the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, have published a paper (which hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed) that reports on a neutralising antibody for the new coronavirus. In other good news, the Cleveland Clinic has developed a COVID-19 test that gives results in just hours, and not days.

While there is still a great deal of suffering as the world actively combats the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s comforting to see the hospitality industry – which has taken such a big hit during this time – working with healthcare to provide what help they can.

Salto, Gold level member of the Oracle Partner Network (OPN), is honoured to have achieved validated integration with Oracle Hospitality OPERA PMS. This is an exciting and significant accomplishment that helps us deliver even better hospitality solutions. By joining the OPN at Gold Level Status, SALTO further strengthens our capability to provide feature-rich integrated access control that improves the guest experience, overall hotel management, and operations.

We’ve been working diligently to support Oracle in ensuring that a full integration between SALTO smart access control and Oracle Hotel Property Management System (PMS) solutions offers a seamless and secure smart-locking experience while speeding up the check-in process and simplifying hotel management tasks for all sizes and types of hotels. The integration is designed to provide an optimal guest experience and the best utilization of the hotel's guest rooms, suites, back-of-house operations, and meeting space infrastructure.

Specifically, the Salto-Oracle integration enables the following:

• Guest room-oriented keycard generation upon check-in performed on Oracle Hospitality Suite8 PMS and Opera PMS
• Keycards disabled upon check-out performed on Oracle Hospitality Suite8 PMS and Opera PMS
• Reading of guest keycards from Oracle Hospitality Suite8 PMS and Opera PMS
• Unique keycard ID sent back to Oracle Hospitality Suite8 PMS and Opera PMS upon keycard generation

Oracle and Salto already have a significant installed customer base. As a global brand for more than 18 years, SALTO hardware and software electronic access control solutions have continued to evolve to better meet the expectations of the increasingly demanding hospitality market. This excellence is proven through the long-term satisfaction and relationships that we have developed with clients and partners across the globe.

As a Gold level partner, Oracle is officially recognizing and validating – with great confidence – that the SALTO-Oracle integration is functionally sound and performs as designed. The solution therefore should help hospitality customers reduce deployment risk, lower total cost of ownership, and improve the user experience.

SALTO Systems has upgraded MyLock, the online lock customization tool that allows users to choose and see potential door configurations prior to final architectural project and design definition.

With MyLock, users can select a SALTO electronic lock model, door type, and choose from a broad range of colors, finishes, handles, and functions. The new MyLock design has an improved user experience for web as well as mobile access and adds important new capability including configuring accessory products like wall readers. SALTO SPACE access control management software and SALTO KS Keys as a Service compatible product ranges are also included.

Whether it’s a change model, finish, or door type texture, SALTO MyLock users can easily navigate through a menu to make their selection and customize the chosen model as much as possible. User can choose between different door standards and technology platforms, like SALTO SPACE access management software or SALTO KS cloud-based solution, and opening mode options like contactless smart card, mobile key, or keypad.

https://mylock.saltosystems.com/

Users can now make more than one configuration in a single MyLock session which allows those seeking electronic lock solutions the capability to configure a variety of door models within a building. Once completed, a MyLock user can preview and download 3D and 2D files including BIM files in a variety of industry formats including Revit, STP, DWG, JPEG, PDF, and more.

SALTO developed MyLock to aid project designers and planners and provide them the capability to see how their electronic lock choices work with a variety of doors. This new MyLock design has simplified the user interface and website navigation to provide users with the most positive experience as possible as they carefully construct the access point model that best suits their access control and security needs.