Types of guest room locks used in hotels

GuestDefinition of Guest in Hospitality Industry: A guest is the most important person in any business. A... room SecuritySecurity is the prevention of theft; fire; and other emergency situations in the workplace. locks can be a critical aspect of guest protection. The guest room doors and windows must be fortified to prevent forced entry. Installation of a burglar-proof door locking system and effective Key and key control procedure is to be followed by the hotel to ensure guest room safety against theft.

Effective Key control in the hotel is essential to the security of a lodging property. All keys whether metal or electronic should be adequately controlled. There are many types of Locks currently available but even if the hotel buys the most secured or expensive one and does not follow proper key controlling procedures then this will easily get into the hands of criminals.

Following are some types of Locks used in hotels:

1. Locks with the key channel in the knob.
2.  Standard mortise locks, which generally include a faceplate with the knob, a separate key channel on the corridor side of the door, and a deadbolt unit on the guest room side of the door.
3.  Mortise locks with programmable cylinders for easily changed key combinations.
4.  Mortise locks with removable cores.
5.  Electronic locks with a random selection of new key combinations for each guest.
6.  Electronic Number Combination Locks.
7.  Biometrics Locks. (Finger Print, Retina Scanner, etc.)

Several systems have been introduced to add to the re-key and core change capabilities of guest room locksets. As a security reason, hotels are now having locks that are integrated into the deadbolt so that turning the knob will automatically release the deadbolt as well as the basic latch.

Electronic Key card locks provide an effective method for “locking out” cards previously issued and allowing admission to only the current guest. Electronic card systems may also employ a touch-pad system in which a special code is established for each guest during his or her stay.

This usually requires a guest to enter a sequence of numbers known only to the guest to enter the guest room. When the guest checks out to control sequence of the prior guest is cancelled automatically and the lockset receives the communication to accept the new combination.

A variety of electronic systems are available; most include one or more of the following elements:

• A mortise lock integrated with an electronic card reader.
•  A key card that either communicates with the front desk computer and permits entry or which is compatible with the permission level within the microchip in the lockset unit in the guest room door. This establishes entrance capability either at the time the key card is being produced or upon introduction to the door lock.
•  A computer terminal at the front desk or adjacent area produces the key card and selects the code that will permit entry by a new key card and will reject all prior units issued for that room.
•  A computer capable of providing millions of combinations for entrance to a guest room.
•  A battery source and/or hard-wired system for energizing the lock system.
•   touch-pad system.
•  The capability of “timing” the card so it no longer functions as of a set time, such as upon check-out.

Hotels use various types of locks to ensure the safety and security of their guests’ rooms. One of the most common types of locks is the traditional key lock, where guests are given a physical key to open and lock their room. However, this type of lock can be problematic if a guest loses their key or if a key is stolen.

To address these issues, hotels have started to use electronic locks that use key cards instead of traditional keys. These cards are programmed to open specific rooms and can be easily deactivated if lost or stolen. Some hotels have even started to use mobile phone apps to allow guests to access their rooms, eliminating the need for a physical key or card.

Another type of lock that is becoming increasingly popular in hotels is the biometric lock. This type of lock uses a guest’s unique physical characteristics, such as their fingerprint or facial recognition, to grant access to their room. Biometric locks are highly secure and eliminate the need for keys or cards.

Ultimately, the type of lock used in a hotel depends on the hotel's security needs and the level of convenience they want to offer their guests. Regardless of the type of lock used, hotels must ensure that their guests feel safe and secure during their stay.