
In today’s fast-paced hospitality landscape, extended stay property managers face a growing challenge: meeting rising guest expectations while managing operational complexities. Your guests arrive expecting the same seamless digital experiences they enjoy in their daily lives—from instant food delivery to one-click shopping. Yet many properties still rely on outdated access control systems that create friction, consume staff time, and potentially compromise security.
The stakes are high. With extended stays booming and 74% of travelers now viewing digital wallets as “essential gear” for their stays (PYMNTS), properties that don’t adapt risk losing market share to more tech-forward competitors. Meanwhile, those embracing modern access solutions are discovering a powerful way to differentiate their properties while solving multiple operational challenges at once.
The Access Control Challenge for Extended Stays
For extended stay property managers, traditional key card systems create a perfect storm of ongoing challenges. Every lost or demagnetized key card doesn’t just inconvenience a guest—it pulls staff away from more valuable tasks, creates security vulnerabilities, and chips away at guest satisfaction. With stays lasting weeks or months, these small friction points compound over time, potentially turning satisfied guests into frustrated ones.
The impact extends beyond guest experience. Your staff spend precious hours managing physical key cards, troubleshooting access issues, and handling unnecessary front desk visits. In an industry already grappling with staffing challenges, this inefficient use of time carries a real cost to your bottom line. According to recent research, 65% of hoteliers are now actively seeking new technologies specifically to ease staffing pressures (Oracle).
The Digital Wallet Revolution in Hospitality
The solution to these challenges lies in a technology your guests already use and trust: digital wallets. By implementing comprehensive digital wallet support—including room keys in Apple Wallet, Samsung Wallet, and Google Wallet—extended stay properties can transform their access control from a pain point into a competitive advantage. This isn’t just about replacing plastic with digital—it’s about reimagining the entire guest journey from arrival to departure for every guest, regardless of their preferred device.
Digital wallet keys offer extended stay hotel guests the ease of accessing their rooms with the same device they use for payments and daily routines, mirroring the convenience of home. This creates a seamless, residential feel that aligns with the expectations of today’s tech-savvy travelers.
Consider the experience from your guest’s perspective: Instead of waiting in line to receive a physical key card, they can bypass the front desk entirely, accessing their room with the same device they use for payments, boarding passes, and event tickets. Implementing this modern guest experience requires a thoughtfully designed combination of robust hardware and intelligent software solutions.
Modern Access Control for Hotels
When you upgrade to digital wallet room keys, you’re not just solving today’s challenges—you’re future-proofing your property. The M2 Guest Room Lock combines enterprise-grade security with consumer-friendly simplicity. This ANSI Grade 1 hardware has been tested through over 1,000,000 cycles, ensuring reliability that matches the demanding needs of extended stay properties.
But hardware is only part of the story. The EntryReady Cloud™ platform puts unprecedented control at your fingertips. Property managers can:
- Monitor access attempts in real-time: Stay informed of guest and staff activity across the property.
- Grant or revoke access instantly: Easily manage guest and staff permissions with just a few clicks.
- Generate detailed access reports: Gain insights into access patterns to improve security and operations.
- Manage multiple properties from a single dashboard: Streamline access control for multi-property portfolios.
- Integrate seamlessly with existing property management systems: Automate key issuance and updates.
EntryReady Staff Keys further enhance operational efficiency by enabling:
- Role-Specific Access Permissions: Customize access for housekeeping, maintenance, or management teams, ensuring they only access the areas they need.
- Scheduled Access: Set specific time frames for staff access to guest rooms or restricted areas, improving security and accountability.
- Digital Convenience: Staff can securely store their digital keys in Apple Wallet for seamless access without physical keycards.
Choosing Your Path Forward
The shift to digital wallet room keys is a pivotal decision for your property’s future. It requires thoughtful consideration of both technology and the right partnership. Success starts with choosing a technology partner who understands the unique challenges of extended stay properties. The right partner will offer innovative solutions and expert guidance every step of the way.
Not all digital access solutions are created equal.
Your hotels needs an access control system that’s built for the future, not just today. The M2 Guest Room Lock combines industry-leading specifications and beautiful finishes with cutting-edge digital capabilities, ensuring your investment continues delivering value for years to come. With EntryReady Cloud™, you can manage access control for multiple properties from a single platform, streamlining operations and ensuring consistent guest and staff experiences across your growing portfolio.
The Power of Partnership
Beyond hardware, your technology partner should provide comprehensive support throughout your digital transformation journey. EntryReady’s approach combines innovative technology with dedicated expertise, delivered through:
- Seamless Platform Integration: Our solutions integrate directly with leading property management systems including Cloudbeds, HotelKey, and Mews, with more partnerships launching in 2025. This ensures your digital key solution works harmoniously with your existing operations.
- Direct Wallet Integration: As an authorized Apple Wallet credential manager and provider, we deliver room keys directly to guests’ devices without middleware or additional apps. Similar direct integration with Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet is launching this year.
- Comprehensive Training Solutions: Our flexible training program includes both on-site implementation support and remote learning options, ensuring your team is confident and capable. We provide ongoing education as you add staff or expand to new properties.
- U.S.-Based Success Team: From initial deployment through daily operations, our dedicated support team provides rapid, knowledgeable assistance. We’re committed to your property’s success with 24/7 technical support and regular system optimization guidance.
- Future-Ready Platform: EntryReady Cloud™ scales with your needs, supporting everything from single properties to entire portfolios. Our continuous platform updates ensure you’re always equipped with the latest features and security enhancements.
This consultative approach ensures you’re not just getting new technology—you’re gaining a partner committed to your property’s long-term success.
The Cost of Waiting
While some properties hesitate to embrace new technology, the true cost of maintaining the status quo grows more significant each day. In today’s rapidly evolving hospitality landscape, falling behind on guest expectations can have lasting consequences for your property’s reputation and bottom line.
Consider what’s truly at stake when delaying the transition to digital wallet room keys:
- Guest Satisfaction: 80% of global travelers now expect seamless device integration with hotel technology (Hilton). Properties that fail to meet these expectations risk losing bookings to more tech-forward competitors.
- Operational Efficiency: Properties waste thousands of staff hours annually on physical key management, from replacing lost cards to resolving access issues. These repetitive tasks not only drain resources but also prevent staff from focusing on meaningful guest interactions.
- Environmental Impact: The hospitality industry discards over 750 tons of plastic key cards annually in the U.S. alone (Hotel UMass). By maintaining outdated systems, properties contribute to this environmental burden while missing opportunities to appeal to increasingly eco-conscious travelers.
- Competitive Position: Early adopters of digital wallet technology are already creating significant differentiation through superior guest experiences. As this technology becomes standard, properties that delay implementation risk being viewed as outdated and less desirable to modern travelers.
Getting Started
The shift to digital wallet room keys represents more than a technology upgrade—it’s a strategic move that positions your property for success in an increasingly competitive market. By solving both guest and operational challenges simultaneously, this investment delivers returns far beyond its implementation cost.
Take the first step toward modernizing your extended stay property today. Contact EntryReady for a personalized demo and discover how digital wallet room keys can transform your operations and delight your guests.