Reducing hotel night-shift costs

Running a smaller or mid-sized hotel comes packaged with a specific night-time threat: the last, scheduled guest check-in for the day. It’s almost midnight, the lobby is dead and the reception has just received notification that the last guest is delayed a further 3 hours.

Typically, the two options available for management is either paying extra for staff to remain at the desk beyond their normal hours; or storing a key or keycard in a nearby lockbox, which is quite a large security risk in itself. 

Installing a KeyNest Locker on site helps completely avoid these kinds of situations by providing 24/7 access to room keys and key cards, meaning you don’t need to risk key loss and can keep staff costs down.

The real cost of night staff

While a night porter can provide guest access and security, they’re still an unnecessary cost, with the operational headaches quickly becoming apparent: 

• The Reliability Gap: The staff are still human. Unless you have multiple staff on-call, if the night worker calls in sick just before their shift starts, it’s up to you to man the lobby until the last guest arrives.

• Additional Employee Costs: It’s not just their wages you’re paying - it’s the money to keep the lights on, the AC running and whatever other resources the night-staff might use on shift.

• Staff Burnout: Owners and management for smaller hotel operations commonly cover the shifts themselves, which, unfortunately, can result in mistakes from having to unexpectedly work a 20+ hour shift, leading to mistakes, missed guest-prep for the morning, and bad reviews as a consequence.

The Risk of Lockboxes

Mechanical lockboxes are an unnecessary security risk when it comes to storing hotel keys/keycards. The lockbox itself is a physical indicator that there is something valuable inside and, when attached to outside of a hotel, a clear sign it probably stores hotel access. 

A lockbox is also untrackable. If the guest arrives late, there’s no indication that they’ve arrived and checked-in beyond physically knocking on their door when staff arrives the next morning. 

The benefits of unmanned check-ins

Using a KeyNest Locker can streamline your nightly workflow through several additions:

Remote Verification

Rather than trying to clue a guest in at 2 AM with additional check-in documentation, they receive a before their arrival. Once their ID is uploaded and their balance paid, guests are sent a unique, 8-digit access code to retrieve their key or keycard from the locker.

Handovers in Less Than 30 seconds

When guests finally arrive in the early hours of the morning after a delayed commute, they can approach the locker, pop their code in, and retrive their room access within seconds.

Automatic Notifications

No need to keep yourself up all night wondering if a guest managed to get their key or not - the locker system will automatically send you a notification the moment the key is collected.

Physical Access Remains the Better Option

Before you think about going fully digital with electronic, bluetooth smart locks, consider the awkward situation when a guest has no charge on their phone after an extended travel day, or trying to juggle new permissions at 2 AM. Smart locks are high-maintenance and prone to error in a way physical keys and key cards just aren’t. 

A KeyNest Locker allows you to maintain using physical access without having to install expensive new locks to each door. 

Keeping Costs Down with a KeyNest Locker

Every hour you pay someone to sit and wait for a single guest is an hour of profit down the drain. By moving late arrivals to an automated locker system, you can effectively close your front desk at 10:00 PM. You’ll save thousands in labor every month and, more importantly, you’ll actually get some sleep.

• How secure are the lockers?

  The lockers are built from high-grade steel and bolted to the wall, with every access event digitally logged in real-time.

• What if the guest can’t find the locker?

  The automated check-in email includes exact GPS coordinates and photos of the locker's location to ensure a smooth arrival.

• Do I need to replace my existing keys?

  No, you can keep your current physical room keys or key cards; the locker simply manages the handover process for you.

• Can the system handle payments and IDs?

  Yes, the digital check-in link verifies guest identification and collects outstanding balances before releasing the access code.

• What happens if there is a technical issue at night?

  We provide 24/7 support for both hosts and guests to resolve any code or locker issues immediately.