Your hotel room key just got a lot smarter. 

New Zealand hospitality technology company Liverton Group has launched digital wallet keys through its SmartStay guest platform, allowing guests to unlock their room using Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, no app download required. 

As part of the continued evolution of the SmartStay platform, which is used by properties worldwide, guests can now complete digital check-in via web, mobile or a self-service kiosk, receive physical or digital room keys instantly and head straight to their room.

Immediate benefits

For accommodation operators, the benefits are immediate: staffing relief, reduced costs and faster arrivals, allowing their team to focus on higher value interactions.

“Guests already expect to use their phone for almost everything,” says Justin De Lille, CEO of Liverton Group.

“They pay with it, fly with it, access event tickets with it. Hospitality is moving in the same direction, and the experience needs to feel just as seamless.”

For operators navigating labour shortages, managing late-night arrivals or dealing with congested reception areas, that flexibility is a major advantage.

The new standard

The digital key also gives access to approved common areas such as lifts and gyms, and automatically deactivates at check-out.

As hotel operations continue to digitise and automate, the focus is shifting toward faster, smoother guest experiences that don’t require an app download. 

“The reality is that most guests don’t want another app,” says De Lille. “The less friction there is between arrival and entering the room, the better the experience is for everyone.”

Behind the scenes, SmartStay has been designed to integrate with major property management system and locking providers, allowing hotels to introduce digital wallet access without overhauling existing infrastructure. Digital wallet keys also offer enhanced security through encrypted credentials stored securely on personal devices. 

The technology marks a major shift in how hotels deliver mobile access, with digital key adoption expected to increase significantly over the coming months and years, becoming a standard option for guest access. 

“The best hospitality technology should feel almost unnoticeable to the guest,” says De Lille. “It should remove steps, remove waiting and make arrival feel simple. Digital wallet keys are a big move toward that future.”