A swimming pool, several restaurants, gardens, a gym, a spa, guest rooms spread across different buildings… The larger the resort, the more guests and staff move around the property throughout the day; and the more difficult it is to keep all access credentials under control.
After all, losing a card at a large property is easy: It can be left behind on a sun lounger, dropped while walking around the resort or misplaced in any of the common areas.
However, if the credential is still valid, it can provide access to the areas for which it has permission.
In large hotel complexes, not only is it important to control who can access which areas, but also how long each credential remains valid.
In this article, we explain how an access revalidation system works and why it is a valuable tool for improving security and operational efficiency at your resort.
Lost cards at a resort: a bigger problem than it may seem
At a small hotel, identifying and dealing with a lost card is relatively straightforward; however, at a large resort, the situation is very different.
Hundreds of guests and staff are constantly moving between guest rooms, pools, restaurants, sports facilities, service areas and outdoor access points. Moreover, the high turnover of users and the large number of active credentials at any given time complicate matters further.
In such an environment, a lost card may go unnoticed for hours. And the longer the lost credential remains active, the greater the risk that someone could use it without authorisation.
The solution is not to increase the workload at reception or manage every card manually. A more efficient approach is to give access permissions a limited validity period and require them to be renewed periodically.
Temporary credentials: A way to enhance security
An access revalidation system can automatically renew permissions stored on a credential. This way, the hotel can use shorter validity periods rather than keep permissions active for extended periods.
For example, staff cards can be given a short 24-hour validity period, renewable upon presentation at a revalidation point.
So credentials that remain in legitimate use can have their permissions renewed as normal, while a lost credential not presented at a revalidation point will simply expire.
This means staff or guests do not need to visit reception every time their credentials require renewal.
Revalidating credentials as users access hotel areas
For this system to be practical, the revalidation point should be easily locatable as users move normally around the property.
For example, it could be installed at a point that hotel staff pass through every day before starting their shift; or at the entrance to a common area used regularly by most guests.
By installing the revalidation system at such a point, renewing permissions becomes part of the access process itself. Users simply present their credentials at the device and gain access to the restricted area and renew their permissions in a single operation.
This integrates security into the hotel’s day-to-day operations without introducing unnecessary processes for staff or increasing the workload at reception.
INUP: access control and revalidation in a single device
At Omnitec, we offer INUP, our access control and permission revalidation device, specifically designed to automate this process.
INUP manages the daily renewal of guest and staff permissions. It can be installed at strategic locations, such as main entrances, staff access points and changing rooms.
One of its main advantages is that it reads and updates different types of MIFARE proximity credentials, including cards, key fobs and wristbands, which are widely used at resorts for their convenience.
INUP also features wired network connectivity, a highly impact-resistant polycarbonate front panel and IP65 certification, providing greater flexibility when choosing where to install the device.
Benefits of using an access revalidation system
Periodic revalidation of access permissions can offer significant benefits for establishments with a large number of users:
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Reduces the risk associated with lost credentials: Permissions which are not revalidated expire at the end of the specified validity period.
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Avoids constant manual renewals: Users update their own credentials, simply by passing through the designated revalidation point.
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Reduces workload at reception: Credential renewal can be integrated into users’ normal movements around the property.
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Supports different types of MIFARE credentials: Cards, wristbands or key fobs can be used according to the needs of each hotel.
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Improves access control over large establishments: This is particularly important for resorts with many buildings, common areas and different user profiles.
Ultimately, automating these tasks reduces the time spent on repetitive processes and enables more efficient access management.
Access management designed for large resorts
At large properties, a standalone revalidation device is not enough. The key is to design the overall access plan effectively, taking into account different user profiles, areas, permissions and validity periods.
At Omnitec, we have developed a range of solutions to achieve this. These include OS Access software, which enables hotels to centralise credential management for staff, guests and external users via a web browser.
You can also establish employee profiles, set different access levels and manage an access plan tailored to premises with a wide range of devices and users.
This way, the technology can meet the scale and specific requirements of each establishment, rather than forcing a hotel to operate under a single configuration.
How to improve resort security with Omnitec
As can be seen, managing hundreds or thousands of credentials does not have to mean increasing your team’s manual workload.
An access revalidation system lets you have permissions with limited validity periods which are automatically renewed at strategic points throughout the resort. This means that normal access to an area in the hotel can also keep the credential up to date.
At Omnitec, we have been providing security and access control solutions for hotels for more than two decades, and we understand that large resorts require systems capable of meeting the demands of complex operations.
Would you like greater control over your resort’s guest and staff credentials? Call us and we’ll help you develop an access plan that meets the specific requirements of your property.