New hospitality app takes access control and guest communication to the next level

One app, full control over your hotel

For years, Hotek has been at the forefront with smart access control and hospitality solutions for the hotel industry. With the introduction of the new Hotek Hospitality App, the company is taking another logical step in digital hotel innovation. The app gives hoteliers real-time insight and full control over access management, maintenance, and communication with guests. “And all of that from one clear environment,” says CEO Duco Salomons of Hotek Hospitality Group.

Hotek has been known for years for solutions that simplify the guest journey. Hotek's best-known solution is YourMobileKey, which allows guests to open their hotel room via their smartphone, without app downloads and without a vulnerable Bluetooth connection. “That system is now widely accepted in Europe,” says Salomons. “We saw that the next step was logical: more insight and convenience for the hotelier themselves.” That step has now been taken with the Hotek Hospitality App, which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play Store. “You can see it as an extension of YourMobileKey,” he explains. “The Mobile Key web app is primarily aimed at the guest. This new app is for the hotel team.”

All in one dashboard

Via the app, the hotelier gains direct insight into what's happening at the hotel in terms of access. All information is visible at a glance on the dashboard: who has checked in, which room they are staying in, and what their check-in and check-out times are. The dashboard also shows how many guests are still expected that week and how many have already checked out. “That kind of information is valuable, especially for larger hotels,” says Salomons.

Furthermore, the app makes physical keys and master keys redundant. “The hotelier can open doors with the app while walking through the hotel. All doors are linked online, so you have full control in your pocket.”

Predictive maintenance

An important advantage of the app is the predictable maintenance. “We show the battery status per lock”, according to Salomons. “With many systems, you still have to go to each door with a cable. That takes time and is prone to errors.”

When the battery voltage is low, the hotel automatically receives a notification. “This way, you can intervene before a guest notices that something is wrong. That prevents complaints and stressful situations at reception.” According to Salomons, this form of predictive maintenance not only increases efficiency but also job satisfaction. “Nobody gets energised by proactively checking dozens of doors.”

Chat function

The Hospitality App goes beyond just technology. A chat function has also been integrated, allowing hotels to communicate directly with guests. “This makes the guest experience more personal and central,” says Salomons. “Everything related to access and stay comes together in one system.”

Existing Hotek customers can use the app at no additional cost. “It's a service extension. For new customers, it's an extra reason to opt for our Mobile Key solution.”

Hotek's continuous innovation does not go unnoticed. This was recently evident at the Horeca Expo in Ghent, where YourMobileKey was a focal point and was awarded a prize. “That was a great recognition for the team,” says Salomons. “It confirms that our choices align with what hoteliers really need.”

Innovation doesn't stop

The line will be extended in 2026. In April, Hotek will be present at both the Independent Hotel Show in Amsterdam and Food Hotel Tech in Paris. At the latter exhibition, the new Hospitality App will be prominently presented as an innovation. “There, we will demonstrate how this app makes a difference in daily hotel operations,” according to Salomons.

However, innovation doesn't stop at one app, emphasises the CEO of Hotek. “We continuously invest in new technology. For example, the NFC Cloud is under development, which will further optimise access and key management. That is a next step, but always with the same starting point: smart innovations that help the hotel move forward, without making it complicated.”