What an electronic hotel lock should be today
In the classic sense, an electronic hotel lock opens with an electronic signal instead of a mechanical key. That is the minimum. Modern hotel locks go further — they are network-connected devices that receive access decisions from the PMS in real time, support multiple key formats, keep an audit trail, and continue working when the property internet drops.
The hardware side is the easier half. The hard part is the software layer — the contract between the reservation system and the locks. That is where most "smart" lock projects fall apart.
Standalone hotel locks vs PMS-connected smart locks
A standalone smart lock opens a door but does not know which reservation belongs to which room. The owner enters the guest name, sets start and end dates, sends a code. The PMS lives in another tab. When the booking changes, the lock does not change with it.
Hotel locks connected to the PMS follow reservations as the single source of truth. A booking assigned to room 204 from June 12 to June 15 means a key exists for room 204 for those dates — created and revoked automatically. The owner never touches the lock interface.
Strike, bolt and magnetic locks
- Strike locks (electric strike plates) release the latch when the controller sends a valid signal.
- Bolt locks (electromagnetic or motorized bolts) for high-security, fire-rated or heavy doors.
- Magnetic locks (electromagnetic locks) on metal frames, glass doors and main entrances.
- Orion controllers and readers connect to the PMS regardless of which mechanism is on each door.
What a good smart hotel lock should cover
- Automatic access creation when a reservation is assigned to a room.
- Automatic access revocation on checkout, cancellation, reassignment or unassignment.
- Real-time control of room doors, main entrances and common doors.
- Multiple digital key formats: QR, Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, NFC and mobile app.
- Separate guest and staff access management.
- Event logging for compliance and incident review.
- Offline access when the property internet is down.