Fragmented Hotel Access Control Tech Creates Frustrated Guests and Overloaded Staff

Check-in sets the tone for a guest’s stay. When access systems force people to download apps, toggle Bluetooth, or return to the front desk, frustration builds. These small moments of friction erode the guest experience before they’ve even reached their room. Meanwhile, legacy tools like BLE apps and RFID card hotel keys fail to meet modern expectations for speed, simplicity, and reliability.

Guests frequently run into problems like:

• Mandatory app downloads and login requirements
• Bluetooth not functioning or needing to be re-enabled
• Lost, misprogrammed, or demagnetized RFID cards
• Waiting in line just to get a replacement key

When tech fails, front desk and IT staff absorb the burden. Support tickets rise, teams lose time, and the guest experience suffers.

Security and Guest Satisfaction are Both at Risk

Poor access control doesn’t just inconvenience guests—it puts their safety and your reputation on the line. Legacy RFID systems, including MIFARE Classic and 125 kHz cards, can be cloned using tools found easily online. A recent vulnerability in “UnSaflok” locks affected over 3 million hotel rooms, allowing attackers to forge working keys. Source: Wired

“Even a small access delay can feel like a breach of trust to a tired guest.”
Security isn’t just about encryption—it’s about confidence and control.

BLE app-based systems introduce their own issues. Guests depend on their phone’s battery, OS permissions, and stable Bluetooth to open a door. When any one of those fails, the guest ends up stuck. These moments damage your brand—and they show up in reviews, survey responses, and operational KPIs.

Comparing RFID Cards, BLE Apps, and NFC Wallet Keys

Most hotels use one of three access technologies. While each one offers some level of digital access, only one delivers the performance, security, and guest experience modern hotels need.

Legacy RFID

Legacy RFID systems—especially MIFARE Classic and 125 kHz low-frequency cards—use outdated encryption (Crypto-1) that has been repeatedly compromised. A 2024 report revealed a hardware backdoor in certain MIFARE Classic cards, allowing unauthorized access without standard authentication. These cards can be cloned in under two minutes using commonly available tools. Source: Keysight

Common risks include:

• ✖️ Easy to clone using off-the-shelf tools
• ✖️ No audit trail or usage visibility
• ✖️ Cannot be remotely revoked or disabled
• ✖️ No device tie-in or user-level identity control

Once cloned, these cards offer no visibility or control—creating serious safety and liability risks for hotels still relying on outdated RFID access.

Bluetooth App-Based Keys

BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) systems offer encrypted communication, but rely heavily on mobile device behavior and app health. These systems lack a hardware-secure element and depend on factors like Bluetooth permissions, background refresh, and OS-level settings.

Operational challenges hoteliers frequently encounter:

• ⚠️ App must be downloaded, logged in, and running in the background
• ⚠️ Bluetooth must be enabled and stable
• ⚠️ BLE pairing can fail due to OS or battery settings
• ⚠️ No identity tie-in or biometric security

When any part of this fragile setup fails, guests are locked out—and staff are left to troubleshoot a mobile device issue they can’t control.

NFC Wallet-Based Keys

NFC keys stored in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet use the phone’s secure element and are authenticated using AES-128 encryption—the same standard used for contactless payments. This makes them highly secure, device-tied, and resistant to cloning.

Key advantages of NFC wallet keys:

• ✅ Stored in the device’s secure element, not an app
• ✅ Encrypted with AES-128 authentication
• ✅ Works even when the phone is locked
• ✅ On iPhones, works even with a dead battery (Power Reserve)

For guests, it feels instant and effortless. For hotel operators, it removes support friction and elevates the standard of access control. See how EntryReady delivers wallet-first access control →

Why Wallet Keys Are the Better Long-Term Strategy

Hotels that invest in wallet-based keys remove friction for guests and complexity for staff. With native support in Apple and Google Wallet, these systems stay current without custom apps, middleware, or manual updates.

Imagine a guest arriving after midnight. Instead of fumbling through an app, they tap their phone and step inside. No calls, no frustration, no wasted time.

Wallet-based access works with how guests already move through the world—using their phones to pay, board planes, and store tickets. Adoption rises, support tickets drop, and your team gains back time to focus on what matters most: the guest experience.

What Success Looks Like with NFC-Based Access

EntryReady’s wallet-first platform doesn’t treat Apple Wallet or Google Wallet as optional—it’s core to how we deliver access. Our customers see measurable gains across their properties:

• Higher adoption rates across all guest types
• Fewer support issues and faster resolutions
• Smoother mobile check-in experiences
• Easier management of access across locations

More importantly, wallet keys meet today’s guest expectations—and tomorrow’s.

According to Oracle Hospitality and Skift, 34.4% of travelers want to use their smartphones to access hotel rooms and amenities, and 47.7% of hoteliers are already shifting away from keycards to meet that demand.
Source: Oracle + Skift, Hospitality in 2025 (PDF)

Final Thoughts

BLE apps helped move the industry forward—but they still leave guests waiting and IT teams reacting. RFID cards pose even greater risks. NFC wallet-based keys deliver faster, safer, and more scalable access, built for how guests already live and travel.

When your brand promises seamless, contactless hospitality, your access control system should deliver on that promise—without exceptions.

Still using BLE apps or plastic keycards? It’s time to upgrade. Request a demo of EntryReady’s wallet-first access system →