Imagine a traveler from the 1980s. Suitcase in hand, crumpled map, arriving at a hotel after an endless flight. At the reception, a line of tired guests, a clerk tapping away at a prehistoric computer, and finally—after signatures, documents, and polite smiles—here it is: the key. There was no choice, no alternative. Check-in was a slow, face-to-face ritual because technology simply couldn’t offer more. But travelers, deep down, were already dreaming of something else: arriving whenever they wanted, without waiting for anyone. Today, in 2025, that dream is a reality. Self check-in has turned the rules of hospitality upside down, and this is the story of how we got here—and how Xenia is making it simpler, safer, and (listen up!) free.
When Check-in Was an Odyssey
Let’s go back. In the 1990s, the height of modernity was a landline phone to confirm a booking. Hotels dominated the hospitality world, and in-person check-in wasn’t a choice: it was the only option. Not because travelers loved chatting with the receptionist, but because there was no other way. Locks were mechanical, keys were heavy as ingots, and the idea of entering a room at 2 a.m. without waking someone? Science fiction. Yet, the desire for freedom was there, just waiting for technology to set it free.
Then came the internet. Online bookings, platforms like Airbnb, smart locks: the world opened up. Travelers began demanding flexibility, and hospitality had to adapt. Self check-in didn’t emerge because we suddenly stopped loving human contact. It came about because, at last, we could meet a need that had always existed: arriving without constraints, on our own terms.
The Voice of Travelers: “Give Us Autonomy!”
It’s not just a feeling. The numbers speak for themselves. According to the 2024 Mews Survey (HotelSpeak), nearly 80% of travelers would choose a property with self check-in, and over 40% prefer digital tools to manage their stay. Another survey, by BITS Arabia with 7,000 travelers, is even clearer: 80% love contactless systems, and 73% are crazy about digital keys. Translated? People want control. They want to open the door with a click, without waiting for someone to hand them a key like it’s a medieval ceremony.
The Evolution of Self Check-in: From Improvisation to Technology
But how did we go from the 1980s reception to locks that open with an app? It’s been a journey, with some stumbles and plenty of innovations. Here are the three main chapters of the self check-in saga.
1. The Box on the Pole: The Stone Age
In the beginning, when short-term rentals were the Wild West, someone had a brilliant idea (or so they thought): “Let’s put the keys in a safety box tied to a street pole!” Cheap? Yes. Convenient? Sure. Safe? Not even close. Keys left in a public place were an open invitation to thieves. And there was one small detail: attaching a box to a pole without permission was illegal. Fines, neighbor complaints, and the municipality knocking on your door. Result? A failed experiment, banned in many cities, from Milan to Rome.
2. Deposit Points: A Step Forward (But Not Much)
Having learned their lesson, smarter systems emerged. Think of services like KeyNest: you leave the keys in a “safe place”—a shop, a tobacconist, a partnered office—and the guest receives a code to pick them up. Better, right? Sure, it was safer and complied with regulations. But there was a catch: the guest had to embark on a pilgrimage to retrieve the keys, often far from the property. And the manager? They paid a fee for each deposit. In short, an improvement, but not the revolution everyone was waiting for.
3. Smart Locks and Remote Access: Welcome to the Future
Then came the real technology. Gates that open with a link, smart locks that respond to your smartphone, safety boxes mounted on the doorframe (yes, it’s legal there because it’s private property). These systems are a game-changer. The guest arrives, clicks, and enters. No poles, no shops, no risks. And managers can control everything remotely, without leaving the couch. It’s self check-in 2.0: safe, compliant with regulations, and with one flaw: installing it can cost an arm and a leg. Or at least, that’s how it was until recently.
November 2024: The Crackdown That Shook Everyone
And here the story gets complicated. In November 2024, the Ministry of the Interior issues a circular (no. 38138, for code enthusiasts) that seems to want to turn back the clock. Based on Article 109 of the TULPS, it insists on “de visu” check-in: in practice, someone should verify guests’ identities in person to ensure public safety. Panic among managers: goodbye self check-in? Not quite. The circular doesn’t ban automated systems but says they aren’t enough on their own. Certified technologies are needed, ones that record data flawlessly and track every access. And guess what? The Ministry of Tourism is working on just that: a standardized solution that balances security, regulations, and the freedom to manage your property as you wish.
Xenia: The Self Check-in That Lets You Sleep Easy
And now, in the present, Xenia steps in as the white knight of hospitality. Imagine a self check-in system that does it all: it opens the outer gate with a timed link, valid only for the guest’s stay. No fixed codes, no risk of unauthorized access. Once inside, the guest finds the keys in a box on the doorframe or enters directly with a smart lock, depending on how you’ve set up your property. It’s simple, it’s safe, and it complies with the latest regulations.
But the real twist? While a setup like this would cost you between 200 and 300 euros on the market (and a fair amount of headache), with Xenia it’s all free. Yes, you read that right: zero costs for new owners and affiliated property managers. It’s not just about money: it’s the freedom to offer your guests a modern experience without worrying about regulations, fines, or malfunctioning technology.
Your Next Move
Hospitality isn’t what it used to be. It’s a world where travelers want flexibility, managers want simplicity, and authorities want order. Self check-in is the bridge that connects it all, and Xenia is the smartest way to cross it. Whether you’re an owner with an apartment to rent or a property manager with an empire of properties, 2025 is the year to make the leap.
Ready to revolutionize how you welcome your guests? Contact us and discover how Xenia can make your self check-in a breeze—without spending a dime. The key to the future is digital, and we’re handing it to you.
