Hotek is reshaping hotel access with smart, sustainable solutions—from mobile keys to cloud-based upgrades. Come and see what’s next for hospitality tech at IHA26.

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Can you tell us briefly how Hotek started and how it became a market leader in hospitality locks and accessories?

Hotek was founded more than 25 years ago with a clear mission: to make hospitality smarter, safer, and more guest-friendly through innovation. Over time, we have evolved from traditional electronic locks to mobile key solutions, while also expanding into hotel accessories such as minibars, safes, luggage racks, and coffee equipment. By offering hoteliers a true one-stop-shop with reliable, customizable solutions and strong partnerships, Hotek has grown into a trusted market leader serving over 10,000 clients worldwide.

Hotek offers a range of locks. Which products are currently most popular and why?

Our YourMobileKey solution is leading the way. Guests receive a personal link by email, SMS, or WhatsApp about 24 hours before check-in and can open their room door with just one swipe. No app downloads and no Bluetooth are required. Hotels love the convenience and the enhanced security. Importantly, it also reduces reliance on night reception staff for late arrivals or lost cards. Alongside this, our hybrid keycard locks with manual override remain very popular. In supplies, our leatherette products in brown and beige are in strong demand.

How does Hotek ensure security and reliability in both offline and online access systems?

Security is central to everything we do. Our offline systems use robust, proven hardware for long-term reliability. For online access, YourMobileKey operates via IoT communication and applies AES-256 encryption, the global standard for secure data transfer. The system is also extremely fast, with doors opening in 0.3 seconds compared to Bluetooth alternatives opening in 3 seconds. All Hotek’s solutions are fail-safe with reliable backup options to guarantee access anytime.

With over 10,000 clients in more than 100 countries, what global trends do you see shaping your product roadmap?

We see three major trends shaping the future. First, frictionless guest experience is key. Guests want seamless, app-free digital access. Receiving a key link via email, SMS, or WhatsApp before check-in means they can go straight to their room without waiting at reception. This convenience also creates anchoring moments for hotels to engage with guests. Second, sustainability is driving change. Moving to mobile keys eliminates plastic cards. In a 250-room hotel, that is around 73,000 cards a year. Combined with fewer front desk hours needed for late arrivals, the environmental and cost impact is significant. Third, flexibility and upsell opportunities are becoming increasingly important. Operators need scalable systems that integrate with PMS and guest apps. With YourMobileKey, guests enter a branded web environment every time they open their door. This creates natural upsell opportunities for room upgrades, breakfast, bike rental, late check-out, or a bottle of prosecco. Even if only a small percentage of guests convert, it generates meaningful additional revenue.

How does Hotek adapt solutions to different markets, from hotels and holiday parks to cruise lines and student housing?

Every market has different priorities. Holiday parks value scalability and easy management across large numbers of doors. Cruise lines require compact, marine-proof hardware. Student housing focuses on cost-efficiency and durability. Thanks to our system design, we can tailor the right mix of hardware, software, and service to every segment, supported by our broader one-stop-shop approach for all hospitality needs.

Sustainability is clearly integral to Hotek’s strategy. Are there any new eco-friendly initiatives in development?

Yes. A key benefit of YourMobileKey is that existing locks do not need to be replaced. Hotels with Hotek locks can simply add a chip to the lock and install gateways per floor, keeping investment low and hardware waste to a minimum. This makes upgrades both sustainable and cost-effective. For hoteliers, it also means peace of mind. Today’s locks can easily be upgraded to tomorrow’s technology without full replacement.

Looking ahead, what are the biggest opportunities or innovations Hotek is exploring in hospitality technology?

We have launched the Hotek App, giving hoteliers an intuitive tool to grant and manage mobile key access directly from a smartphone or tablet. It is designed for simplicity, helping existing customers get even more value out of their system while showing new customers how digitalization can streamline operations. Combined with upselling opportunities through the web environment, it is a game changer in how hotels can enhance both operations and guest experience.

For hotels considering upgrading their access systems, what advice would you offer to make the transition smoother?

Focus on flexibility and future-proofing. Work with a partner that can integrate seamlessly with your PMS and offer the solutions you need. Plan the transition in phases to avoid disruption. With Hotek, phased installation is possible thanks to the modularity of our locks. This allows hoteliers to upgrade gradually, whether it is adding YourMobileKey or expanding to new properties, while keeping operations smooth.

What excites you most about participating in this year’s Independent Hotel Show? Any new announcements or demos you’re planning?

We are very excited to showcase our Cloud NFC development. This innovation makes it possible to upgrade locks to a cloud-driven system without local servers or on-premise software. Mobile Key is integrated automatically, and existing locks can be reused. The result is a sustainable, cost-efficient upgrade path that eliminates unnecessary hardware replacement. We believe what feels new today will become the standard within a few years, and Hotek is proud to lead that transition.

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