Operator and hotel questions about switching to NFC metal cards.
Who actually pays for The Digital Key, the hotel or the valet operator?
Either, depending on the relationship. Most luxury hotels outsource valet to a third-party operator, and in that case the operator is the buyer and the platform becomes part of how the operator runs and renews the contract. In direct-managed hotels the hotel pays. The amenity revenue commissions are negotiated between the operator and hotel as part of their existing agreement.
Do you work with third-party valet operators?
Yes. The platform was designed around the operator first. Multi-property single login, per-property branding, hotel-facing weekly reports, and audit trails the hotel can see in real time are all built around the operator running one or many luxury hotel contracts.
How does this affect our drivers?
Drivers get more cars per shift because payment is separated from retrieval. More cars means more tips. The driver app handles NFC check-in, the task queue, and handover verification. Most drivers are trained on it in under 30 minutes.
What does a pilot look like for an operator?
A four-week pilot at one property under your brand. Founder-led setup, NFC cards printed and shipped, station and driver training in under a day. No upfront SaaS fee during the pilot. At the end you decide whether to roll out to more properties, extend the pilot, or walk away. See the pilot program →
What is NFC valet parking and how does it work?
NFC valet parking replaces paper tickets with contactless metal cards. Guests receive a reusable NFC card at check-in, tap it on their phone to access amenities or request their car, and the card securely resets for the next guest. The Digital Key achieves 3 to 5 minute retrieval times versus 15 to 20 minutes with paper systems. Read the full definition →
How much does The Digital Key cost?
Starting at $500 per month for the SaaS subscription, tiered by property size and features up to $3,000 per month. Operators and hotels also earn revenue through a 10 to 20 percent commission on amenity bookings guests make through the guest interface during the parking window.
Do guests need to download an app?
No app download, no account creation, no phone number. Guests tap the NFC metal card on their phone and a branded web interface opens instantly. Works on iPhone 7 and newer and all modern Android phones.
How does this compare to Summon, CVPS, or other SMS valet systems?
Unlike SMS-based systems, The Digital Key requires no phone number, no app, and no account. Patent-pending intelligent key mapping eliminates driver search time, and the amenity revenue engine generates a line item SMS systems don't offer. Retrieval is 3 to 5 minutes versus 5 to 10 minutes for SMS competitors. Read the full NFC vs SMS comparison →
What if a guest's phone doesn't support NFC?
iPhone 7 and newer and virtually all modern Android phones support NFC. For the rare exception, guests walk up to the valet podium and receive automatic priority service through the hierarchical dispatch system.
How long does setup take at a new property?
The platform is cloud hosted and white-labeled per property. Setup involves configuring the brand, training staff on the driver app, and distributing NFC cards. Most properties are operational within days.
What happens if the internet goes down?
NFC cards continue functioning as physical tokens. No internet required to identify a vehicle. The system handles intermittent connectivity gracefully and syncs all data when connection returns.
Is The Digital Key secure?
Yes. The patent-pending token security protocol uses a multi-phase card lifecycle that automatically sanitizes all guest data when the valet session ends. No personal data persists on the card. The system also includes dual authentication for administrative actions and mandatory cooling periods for sensitive operations.