Mobile App is coming

[UGA1981]

There are also reports of an ability to take nights off of an existing reservation to be added as a feature as well

Please note that some resort webpages have a link for a 360 degree virtual tour---apparently to be added for all resorts.

In time, the mobile app will provide an ability for remote check-in and to be used as s room key, in addition to, other capabilities.

 

[chapjim]

Your source is not Sales, I hope!

 

[HitchHiker71]

The mobile app was announced by Annie Roberts at the annual owners meeting and is targeted toward year end. @Richelle and I have been participating in design and review sessions for the mobile app over the past several months, it is real. Not sure on the being able to change the start date or removing dates from reservations, but that’s been on our enhancement list for quite some time now, so it would be nice to see that come to fruition. I’ve actually got a couple of existing reservations where being able to change the start date and shorten the reservation would be desirable.

Remote checkin and room key likely won’t be available in version one of the mobile app, but it’s one of the big pieces of feedback for the mobile app that everyone has mentioned during the feedback phase.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Remote checkin and room key likely won’t be available in version one of the mobile app, but it’s one of the big pieces of feedback for the mobile app that everyone has mentioned during the feedback phase.

How will they body snatch people for the “updates?”

 

[dioxide45]

How will they body snatch people for the “updates?”

My thoughts exactly. Remote checkin will allow guests to bypass these things. Then they have the whole parking pass gambit...

 

[HitchHiker71]

My thoughts exactly. Remote checkin will allow guests to bypass these things. Then they have the whole parking pass gambit...

I cannot say firsthand but most of the resorts have offered remote checkin since the pandemic and many still offer it. We’ve never actually tried using remote checkin from the car before so not sure how it works with respect to the parking pass scenario and getting hassled to attend an update, perhaps another TUGGER can chime in on this item? I would imagine the remote checkin via the app will work the same way.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[geist1223]

Considering how non-functionable the Worldmark WEB Site is 2.5 years after release by Wyndumb I do not have a lot of faith in Wyndumb and technology.

 

[dioxide45]

I cannot say firsthand but most of the resorts have offered remote checkin since the pandemic and many still offer it. We’ve never actually tried using remote checkin from the car before so not sure how it works with respect to the parking pass scenario and getting hassled to attend an update, perhaps another TUGGER can chime in on this item? I would imagine the remote checkin via the app will work the same way.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But in today's world, someone has to bring you a room key? Right? With the app, one would think we could just use our phone to unlock the door. Kind of like how DVC does it.

 

[Zeke_62]

When resorts had remote car check in, the agent came to the car as compared to you going to the agent. For a while, they had a "pre check in" website entry where we could add guest names and vehicle info. This pre-entry saved a bunch of typing for the agents. I was sad when they stopped this option.

 

[WManning]

My thoughts exactly. Remote checkin will allow guests to bypass these things. Then they have the whole parking pass gambit...

Parking pass is needed

 

[paxsarah]

Parking pass is needed

 

[jwalk03]

Marriott's hotel app has mobile check-in and mobile key but 99% of the time I still have to go to the front desk and check-in because they want to see an ID so its really kind of useless.

My other grip with their mobile key is that it can only be on one device at a time. So there is no way for my wife and I to each have a mobile key to the room.

So I typically just get regular keys and check-in as normal. Just don't see the benefits of using the mobile check-in or mobile key with those limitations.

 

[dioxide45]

Marriott's hotel app has mobile check-in and mobile key but 99% of the time I still have to go to the front desk and check-in because they want to see an ID so its really kind of useless.

My other grip with their mobile key is that it can only be on one device at a time. So there is no way for my wife and I to each have a mobile key to the room.

So I typically just get regular keys and check-in as normal. Just don't see the benefits of using the mobile check-in or mobile key with those limitations.

Does Marriott mobile checkin work at Vacation Club properties?

 

[HitchHiker71]

When resorts had remote car check in, the agent came to the car as compared to you going to the agent. For a while, they had a "pre check in" website entry where we could add guest names and vehicle info. This pre-entry saved a bunch of typing for the agents. I was sad when they stopped this option.

Agree 100% - I loved the pre-checkin option and used it every time it was available via text messaging. IDK why they stopped doing this - in fact now that you mention this - I'm going to inquire to my contacts about bringing this back - as it really made the entire checkin process much more efficient - up to and including adding the vehicle info/license plate in advance. Much easier than having to manually communicate this info at the checkin desk really. I thought this was simply a newer way of handling checkin - but Wyndham seems to have tied this to the pandemic and sunset this process once the pandemic ended. I don't really think it was pandemic related, I think they likely saw that sales update attendance took a hit, and nixxed this checkin method as a result, which does raise the same concern with regard to the mobile app really.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Marriott's hotel app has mobile check-in and mobile key but 99% of the time I still have to go to the front desk and check-in because they want to see an ID so its really kind of useless.

Most apps that require photo ID allow the user to upload a picture of the photo ID into the app for use for this purpose. Problem solved.

My other grip with their mobile key is that it can only be on one device at a time. So there is no way for my wife and I to each have a mobile key to the room.

So I typically just get regular keys and check-in as normal. Just don't see the benefits of using the mobile check-in or mobile key with those limitations.

Yeah, only having it available on one mobile device would be a bummer as we always get at least two key cards when traveling just the two of us (in addition to the wristbands). I then put one of the key cards in my wallet as a backup to the wristband - just in case.

 

[jwalk03]

Most apps that require photo ID allow the user to upload a picture of the photo ID into the app for use for this purpose. Problem solved.

Yeah, only having it available on one mobile device would be a bummer as we always get at least two key cards when traveling just the two of us (in addition to the wristbands). I then put one of the key cards in my wallet as a backup to the wristband - just in case.

The Marriott one does not provide that option to my knowledge. The hotel front desk always makes you stop and show them which defeats the purpose in my mind.

 

[jwalk03]

Does Marriott mobile checkin work at Vacation Club properties?

No.

 

[jp10558]

Marriott's hotel app has mobile check-in and mobile key but 99% of the time I still have to go to the front desk and check-in because they want to see an ID so its really kind of useless.

My other grip with their mobile key is that it can only be on one device at a time. So there is no way for my wife and I to each have a mobile key to the room.

So I typically just get regular keys and check-in as normal. Just don't see the benefits of using the mobile check-in or mobile key with those limitations.

Marriott's hotel app sucks then. Hilton's lets you text a key from your phone to anyone else you want, but they do also need the app (and an HHonors account to use the app) - so it's not perfect. I also still find it more reliable, especially with people who aren't deep into HHonors like me and my sister, to just go pick up the keycards. Ideally what they'd do is if you have the app you can either share with someone else's phone in a way that doesn't need them to have an account to use the key, OR have a kiosk you walk up to that just talks to your phone and makes keys for you.

 

[jp10558]

Agree 100% - I loved the pre-checkin option and used it every time it was available via text messaging. IDK why they stopped doing this - in fact now that you mention this - I'm going to inquire to my contacts about bringing this back - as it really made the entire checkin process much more efficient - up to and including adding the vehicle info/license plate in advance. Much easier than having to manually communicate this info at the checkin desk really. I thought this was simply a newer way of handling checkin - but Wyndham seems to have tied this to the pandemic and sunset this process once the pandemic ended. I don't really think it was pandemic related, I think they likely saw that sales update attendance took a hit, and nixxed this checkin method as a result, which does raise the same concern with regard to the mobile app really.

I think it's clear the only reason the timeshares still have a manual check-in procedure is to try and get you to sign up for a presentation. I guess it's probably too easy to ignore the phone calls and e-mails.

 

[BoomerKwanger]

Marriott's hotel app sucks then. Hilton's lets you text a key from your phone to anyone else you want, but they do also need the app (and an HHonors account to use the app) - so it's not perfect. I also still find it more reliable, especially with people who aren't deep into HHonors like me and my sister, to just go pick up the keycards. Ideally what they'd do is if you have the app you can either share with someone else's phone in a way that doesn't need them to have an account to use the key, OR have a kiosk you walk up to that just talks to your phone and makes keys for you.

I obviously like Hilton's method as a consumer....but I'm wondering how that would work with Wyndham's guest policy. Wouldn't remote check-in without ID verification allow people to bypass guest certificate limits entirely?

 

[dioxide45]

I obviously like Hilton's method as a consumer....but I'm wondering how that would work with Wyndham's guest policy. Wouldn't remote check-in without ID verification allow people to bypass guest certificate limits entirely?

I would think any kind of remote checkin will require you to be logged in to the app. Would you trust someone enough to give them access to your account through the app on their device? Probably not.

 

[Sandi Bo]

My blurb here.... we had 3 rooms at a Hilton last month. I did remote checkin for the 1st room and couldn't do it for the next 2. I could use the keyless entry to my daughter's room (and the gym) but not the other 2 rooms we had. Maybe I could have figured it out - just easier to pick up keys at the desk.

 

[Zeke_62]

I had one of the "pop up" opinion survey for the app a couple of days ago. Most of the options were things I did not care about such as link to local activities for the resort. I wish i had jotted the options down. I was not impressed.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I had one of the "pop up" opinion survey for the app a couple of days ago. Most of the options were things I did not care about such as link to local activities for the resort. I wish i had jotted the options down. I was not impressed.

Links to local activities is one of the frequent suggestions. I personally would very much like this option in the app as a replacement for the welcome packet info for example - just give it to me electronically and save the paper waste, including coupons and discounted activities in the area. I even went so far as to say how nice it would be to be able to book those excursions within the app itself, using the credit card data stored in the app. Makes planning for excursions much easier at least to me. This just goes to show that one persons trash is another persons treasure. That’s why they are using surveys like this, to find out what the majority of users actually want.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk