Google Wallet is revolutionizing the travel experience for hotel guests by introducing support for digital hotel key cards. This innovative feature allows you to save your hotel key directly to Google Wallet, enabling you to unlock your room with just your phone, eliminating the need for a physical key.

Adding a hotel key to Google Wallet is a simple process, similar to adding a credit card. Just tap the “Add to Google Wallet” button on the hotel’s website, app, or in an email, sign in, and add the hotel to Google Wallet. To unlock your room, all you have to do is hold your phone near the door handle. Some phone models even allow you to unlock the door without unlocking your phone first.

While Apple Wallet has offered this capability since 2021 with the launch of iOS 15, Google Wallet’s integration opens up this convenient feature to a wider group of Android users. Popular hotel chains like Marriott and Hilton have already incorporated digital key cards into their apps, but with Google Wallet integration, there’s no need to download another app.

It’s important to note that not all hotels are currently compatible with Google Wallet for digital key cards. Each hotel will need to add support for this feature individually. Currently, one of the hotels offering digital key cards through Google Wallet is the Clarion Hotel Post in Sweden.

This new technology has the potential to greatly benefit travelers by streamlining their check-in process and enhancing convenience. However, it may take some time before it becomes widely available across different hotels. Initially, upscale hotels may be more likely to adopt this feature before more affordable options follow suit.

If you find yourself staying at a hotel that offers digital key cards through Google Wallet, why not give it a try and experience the convenience firsthand? Keep an eye out for more hotels embracing this technology in the future as it continues to evolve and become more widespread in the hospitality industry.