Aparthotel Software: How to Manage Serviced Apartments
Mobile key for hotels lets guests unlock their room using a smartphone instead of a physical keycard, typically through Bluetooth or NFC once a digital key has been issued for their reservation. Adoption has grown as major lock manufacturers expand support for both dedicated hotel apps and phone wallet based keys.
This article covers how mobile hotel key systems typically work, which providers dominate the space, and what hotels should evaluate before choosing one.
Key Takeaways
Serviced apartments and aparthotels combine hotel style amenities with longer, apartment style stays, which typically requires different operational planning than a traditional hotel.
Aparthotel software generally needs to support longer booking windows, mid-stay billing, and housekeeping schedules that differ from standard daily hotel turnover.
Guest expectations for serviced apartments often include a fully equipped kitchen, laundry access, and more residential style amenities than a typical hotel room.
Payment automation can be especially useful for aparthotels, since longer stays often involve multiple billing cycles rather than a single upfront charge.
Properties managing both short hotel style stays and longer serviced apartment stays typically need software flexible enough to handle both booking patterns.
What Makes Serviced Apartments and Aparthotels Different
Mobile key for hotels typically works by generating a digital key tied to a specific reservation, which is then sent to the guest’s phone once their booking is created or they check in. Guests generally unlock their door using Bluetooth or NFC, without needing to visit the front desk to pick up a physical card.
Wallet based keys are a newer variation of this technology, letting guests store their room key inside Apple Wallet or a similar phone wallet app rather than a dedicated hotel app. This option has started appearing at select properties as more lock manufacturers add the integrations required to support it.
Mobile hotel key systems typically support unlocking through:
average length of stay
in-unit kitchen and laundry amenities
housekeeping frequency
billing cycle structure
What to Look for in Aparthotel Software
ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, which includes the widely deployed Vingcard brand, is one of the largest enterprise lock vendors in hospitality, with a strong presence across major hotel chains globally. SALTO Systems and dormakaba are two other major global access control providers commonly found in hotel deployments.
OpenKey is a provider focused specifically on digital key software that works across multiple hardware brands, giving hotels an option that is not tied to a single lock manufacturer. The right provider for a given property often depends on which door locks are already installed.
Hotels comparing mobile key providers typically evaluate:
guest communication cadence
flexible booking windows for extended stays
mid-stay and recurring billing cycles
adjustable housekeeping frequency
How ChargeAutomation Connects Mobile Key for Hotels to Smart Locks
ChargeAutomation includes smart lock access code management, giving guests timed access codes tied to their reservation without requiring a separate mobile key app. This can work alongside a dedicated mobile key system or as a simpler alternative for properties that do not want to manage a separate hardware integration.
Mobile hotel key systems generally need to integrate with a property’s PMS so a digital key is generated automatically as soon as a reservation is created or a guest completes check-in, rather than requiring manual key issuance by staff. Hotels can start for free at chargeautomation.com to see how online check-in and smart lock access codes fit alongside mobile key and other contactless arrival tools.
Before selecting a mobile hotel key system, hotels typically confirm:
guest communication tailored to longer stays
scheduled charges at set intervals throughout the stay
automatic retries for failed mid-stay payments
security deposit handling for extended bookings
payment reminders sent ahead of each billing cycle
Frequently Asked Questions
What software do serviced apartments and aparthotels use?
Serviced apartments and aparthotels typically use software that supports longer booking windows, mid-stay billing, and flexible housekeeping schedules, which differs from software built mainly for single night hotel stays.
How is managing an aparthotel different from a hotel?
Managing an aparthotel typically involves longer average stays, more apartment style amenities like kitchens and laundry, and billing cycles spread across the stay rather than a single upfront charge.
Do aparthotels need different payment processing than hotels?
Aparthotels often benefit from payment tools that support scheduled or recurring charges across a longer stay, rather than a single payment collected entirely at booking or check-in.
How often do serviced apartments get cleaned?
Housekeeping frequency for serviced apartments is typically more flexible than daily hotel service, often scheduled weekly or on a guest requested basis for longer stays.
Can one property handle both short hotel stays and longer aparthotel bookings?
Yes, but it typically requires software flexible enough to support both single night bookings and longer stays with different billing and housekeeping needs.
