Accor Group has announced plans for a rollout of a new digital key solution, in line with the company strategy to enhance the contactless guest experience.

Following a successful pilot conducted in select properties in North America, Europe and Asia, the global launch will start in all new Accor properties opening in 2021, and extend to existing hotels with the aim equipping at least 50 percent of all rooms with the new technology within five years, thus allowing guests to receive their room key through the Accor digital key app, upon arrival at their hotel.

The Accor digital key program is a partnering with cloud-based mobile access management tool Stay My Way. According to the firm’s founder, Faustino Fernandez: “A recent Deloitte study showed that 60 percent of travelers are more likely to stay at a hotel that allowed contactless check in and the ability to use a smartphone as a room key – 16 percent even say it is a ‘must have.”

Patrick Mendes, Chief Commercial Officer Accor, commented on the rollout: “We are thrilled to announce the launch of Accor Key within our entire network. Making contactless and seamless guest experiences a reality is a priority for Accor. Accor Key is a great example of how the Group can build solutions and deploy them efficiently in all Accor operating countries.”