VingCard Elsafe, an Assa Abloy company, installed the world's first concealed electronic door lock at 5-star Hotel Bristol in Vienna. The lock's minimalist design eliminates all lock hardware on the door, and encases all electronic components, including the reader, inside the door. The design covers the access device, making it practically "invisible" to hotel guests, which solves hotel design professionals' dilemma of blending lock hardware with hotel décor.
Although lock manufacturers made design progress in recent years by minimizing hardware and incorporating new technologies such as RFID and NFC, visible card readers remained on the door exterior. The minimalistic design could help hotels become more elegant and can fit in with the hotel's Art Deco design, said Matthias Winkler, co-owner of the 150-room hotel. The lock can help hotel designers stick to the current trend of giving hotels a more residential look.
VingCard RFID locking systems feature contactless capability via RFID-encoded communication and secure anti-cloning software. Additionally, NFC technology, which is expected to be in widespread use globally within a few years, was incorporated and will enable travelers to use mobile devices as room keys. The electronic lock also minimizes several other operational challenges inherent to guestroom-locking hardware, such as integration, installation and maintenance. The lock is compatible with VingCard's RF-online wireless door lock system that connects stand-alone electronic locks and other guestroom devices and systems, via a central property server.
VingCard Elsafe is confident in bringing this unique design and security solution to additional properties around the world, said Tim Shea, President.