Near Field Communications Coming Soon To a Hotel Near You

Near Field Communications (NFC) is the use of short-range wireless communication technology to enable the exchange of data between devices over a distance of up 10 cm. It’s currently being used to provide transactions such as payments of small accounts and the like, just by placing your mobile phone into close proximity of a reception device.

In Sweden, the Clarion Hotel have partnered with Assa Abloy, a lock company, to trial a system of using NFC enabled mobile phones to provide hotel guests with facilities such as hotel check-in and check-out, and the phone also acts as a digital room key. Upon checkout, the digital room keys are disabled.

Upon making a booking, the guests receive a Samsung mobile phone with NFC and the appropriate software. Check-in may be made prior to the guests’ actual arrival at the hotel, allowing them to proceed directly to their rooms.