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How do you handle key card access after checkout time?

  • December 8, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 78 views
Ivo
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Hi Mews Community,

At our hotel, key cards expire at the fixed checkout time (11:00 AM). However, we often find that guests need to retrieve luggage or personal items from their rooms shortly after checkout. This can lead to frustration when they can't access their room and need to return to the front desk for assistance.

Question: How do other hotels handle this situation? Do you:

  • Extend the validity of key cards for a short period after checkout?
  • Have a process for manually reactivating cards upon guest request?
  • Use alternative solutions, such as temporary access codes or staff assistance?

We are exploring ways to improve the guest experience while maintaining operational efficiency. If you have implemented a solution or have best practices to share, we would love to hear from you!

Thanks in advance for your insights.

Ivo

LBG Hotels

      6 replies

      mauritsbots
      Superstar Guru
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      • mauritsbots
      • Superstar Guru
      • December 8, 2025

      ​@Ivo def something we would be looking for also, but especially for wellness/spa and parking access. somehow both MEWS and or Assa Abloy can seem to manage this (yet). Do please share if you have found the magic solution!

      Questions? Brainstorm? Contact me!
        Ivo
        Forum|alt.badge.img
        • Ivo
        • Author
        • Helper
        • December 9, 2025

        ​@Ivo def something we would be looking for also, but especially for wellness/spa and parking access. somehow both MEWS and or Assa Abloy can seem to manage this (yet). Do please share if you have found the magic solution!

         

        ​@mauritsbots Salto does offer the option to extend access for other zones (like wellness or parking), but it currently lacks the ability to extend the room key card validity itself after checkout.


        What would be ideal is a configurable buffer period (e.g., 30 or 60 minutes) in the keycutter integration. This buffer would automatically be added to the checkout time in the reservation and used as the key card’s validity end time. This way, guests can easily retrieve forgotten items without needing front desk assistance.

        I’ve created a UserVoice topic to request this feature: Extend Key Card Validity Post-Checkout for Improved Guest Experience – Welcome to the Product Ideas Forum

        LBG Hotels
        Johannes Rott
        Superstar Guru
        Forum|alt.badge.img+1
        • Johannes Rott
        • Superstar Guru
        • December 9, 2025

        we have added an hour of extra time on our keys (TESA - Assa Abbloy) that was teh best possible solutiion for us.

        Johannes Rott // IMLAUER Hotels
        Ivo
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        • Ivo
        • Author
        • Helper
        • December 9, 2025

        ​@Johannes Rott  Could you share how you achieved this? I’d love to hear your approach!

        LBG Hotels
        Johannes Rott
        Superstar Guru
        Forum|alt.badge.img+1
        • Johannes Rott
        • Superstar Guru
        • December 9, 2025

        ​@Ivo that was hard coded done on backend of TESA - that was an feature we requested them to be set up.

        it is only valid until the costumer is check-out in MEWS.

        Johannes Rott // IMLAUER Hotels
          I
          • ivan0305
          • Master Apprentice
          • December 21, 2025

          Hi Mews Community,

          At our hotel, key cards expire at the fixed checkout time (11:00 AM). However, we often find that guests need to retrieve luggage or personal items from their rooms shortly after checkout. This can lead to frustration when they can't access their room and need to return to the front desk for assistance.

          Question: How do other hotels handle this situation? Do you:

          • Extend the validity of key cards for a short period after checkout?
          • Have a process for manually reactivating cards upon guest request?
          • Use alternative solutions, such as temporary access codes or staff assistance?

          We are exploring ways to improve the guest experience while maintaining operational efficiency. If you have implemented a solution or have best practices to share, we would love to hear from you!

          Thanks in advance for your insights.

          Ivo

          Hi Ivo,

           

          normaly if u extend the stay byCheck in till 12:00 ( before u code the card) it works. We have check out for example till 12:00 but in Mews is till 12:30 so that the card is still valid after check out. But normally we dont check the room out before we have a cards 

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