Your Android phone can now be used as a hotel room key thanks to Google Wallet

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Google Wallet now lets you store digital hotel key cards on your Android phone, replacing physical keys and additional hotel apps.
You can add your digital key through the hotel’s app, website, or email instructions by tapping “Add to Google Wallet” and logging in.
The Clarion Hotel Post in Gothenburg, Sweden, is the first to adopt Google Wallet for its digital keys.

Google Wallet now lets you store digital hotel key cards on your Android phone, eliminating the need for physical keys and additional hotel apps.

Google recently updated Wallet’s help page to reflect the addition of hotel key support, as spotted by 9to5Google. With participating hotels, you can now store your digital room key directly within the app. Not only does this mean no more physical cards, but it also lets you access keycard-protected areas of the hotel with just your phone.

Traditional hotel key cards are the standard for room access, but they come with their own set of problems. They’re easy to lose, which can lead to annoying and sometimes costly issues for guests when it’s time to check out.

To add a digital hotel key to Google Wallet, simply go to the hotel’s app or website or follow the instructions sent to you via email. Just tap “Add to Google Wallet,” log in securely, and your digital key will be saved to the app.

Google Wallet uses Near Field Communication (NFC), the same technology used for one-touch payment cards. It allows you to speed up your transactions by simply placing your phone near a terminal. But the application is not limited to payments. If you have cards with scannable barcodes, the app can display them as well, saving you the hassle of carrying around your physical card.

Since the iOS 15 update, Apple Wallet allows iPhone users to store digital hotel keys. Now, Google Wallet brings this convenience to Android users.

However, while Google Wallet offers a great solution for digital hotel keys, it’s not available everywhere yet. Hotels need to actively integrate with Wallet for this feature to work. At this point, this adoption is still in its early stages, so not all hotels offer this option yet.

The Clarion Hotel Post in Gothenburg, Sweden, is the first to adopt Wallet for digital keys. While the feature is dependent on each hotel’s participation, its debut at such a large hotel suggests a big change in the hospitality industry.