Marriott's New App Expands Mobile Check-ins

Marriott redesigned its iOS and Android apps and expanded its mobile check-ins, room-ready alerts and checkout capabilities to some 4,000 properties globally.

These features were previously available at around 1,200 hotels and now the complete roster includes properties at Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection, Marriott Executive Apartments, and AC Hotels by Marriott.

Marriott Rewards members receive a notification a day before arrival to alert them that they can check-in, and then receive room-ready alerts the next day informing them when they can proceed to their rooms. First they must stop by a mobile check-in desk, which provides a streamlined check-in because it doesn't require the presentations of credit card information, which is already stored it in the app.

Marriott states that its "brand new Marriott mobile app" has been redesigned to enable Rewards members to check in and check out from their home screens.

The app's revamped main menu provides access to existing reservations, Marriott Rewards accounts and saved hotels.

On the mobile check-in front, Hilton Worldwide plans on taking mobile check-ins a step further, enabling guests to skip the front desk altogether and to use their smartphones as room keys.