Hilton rolls out digital check-in to Middle East

Hilton Worldwide’s digital check-in and room selection technology is now live across more the 4100 hotels worldwide, including 53 hotels in the Middle East and Africa region.

Guests who are members of the group’s loyalty programme, Hilton HHonors, will be able to check-in and choose their rooms from digital floor plans or lists on their desktop, tablet, or mobile devices. Members will also be able to request upgrades or make special requests.

The group has also updated the Hilton HHonors iOS app for Apple devices to coincide with the global roll out.

Hilton Worldwide global head of digital Geraldine Calpin said: “Digital check-in and room selection puts our guests in the driving seat and gives them unprecedented choice and control across their entire stay. Never before have guests been able to check-in, select their room from a digital floor plan and customise their room ready for arrival. We are truly revolutionising the industry and this is just the tip of the iceberg for digital at Hilton Worldwide.”

Hilton Worldwide executive vice president Europe, Middle East & Africa Simon Vincent added: “As a business, we have always prided ourselves on leading the pack – we were the first to put televisions in hotel rooms and now we are the first to let you choose your room – right down to the exact room number.”

Earlier this month, Hilton Worldwide also announced it was working on mobile key technology, which will allow guests to unlock their doors with their smartphones. The technology will be available at Hilton Hotels & Resort, Canopy by Hilton, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, and Conrad Hotel & Resorts in the US by 2015. The technology is expected to be available across the majority of rooms by the end of 2016.