The Ned Hotel's transition to automated key management

Lost keys, limited records: The challenge of manual key management at The Ned

The Ned Hotel, one of London's most magnificent heritage hotels, faced a significant challenge in managing its keys manually, which often results in keys going missing and limited records of who has access and when they were taken or returned.

With 252 rooms, nine restaurants, six private event spaces, a spa, a gym, and a members' club, the hotel's security team struggled to track and account for all master keys efficiently.

Each night, staff members painstakingly signed in keys, tracked missing items, and replaced equipment, relying on handwritten lists for accountability.

Not only does this result in no accountability, but valuable time and resources are also taken to organize instant replacements to ensure guest safety.

From handwritten lists to automated systems: The Ned Hotel's key management upgrade

To streamline key management and enhance security, The Ned sought an automated solution inspired by a site visit to Claridges, where Traka's system was already in place.

The decision was made to implement Traka's key management system initially for up to 300 keys, including bedroom master keys.

This solution offered audit control capability and instant reports, including notifications for unreturned keys.

Labor savings and enhanced efficiency: The Ned Hotel's Traka key management success

Nick Mackenzie, Head of Safety and Security at The Ned, expressed satisfaction with the implementation of Traka's system, which automated the entire process and eliminated the margin for human error.

The hotel experienced significant labor savings and redirected resources, enhancing efficiency. Impressed with the results, The Ned Hotel plans to expand the use of Traka for managing other areas, such as the gym and exclusive 'The Vault' members' keys.

Mackenzie said:

“Hotel key management is of critical importance for the smooth running and also safety and security of all who stay and work here. Completing manual audits is not only time-consuming but relies on neat handwriting to ensure awareness of key allocations and traceability.

The implementation of Traka’s system has automated the complete process. Not only does it effectively remove the margin for human error, but it also means we can make huge labor savings and redirect resources.”

Traka's intelligent key cabinets provided an effective alternative to manual systems, ensuring accountability, saving time, and enhancing guest safety.

What the hotel demonstrates in attention to key control, with a key management system, is one of the most effective ways to not only save on costs of replacement keys but also ensure significant time and resource savings. Staff can instead focus on the provision of luxury comfort and the welcoming atmosphere guests will expect from such an exciting hotel experience.

It is a huge privilege to be involved with The Ned, and Traka is delighted to have made such an instant impact in helping the security team operate more efficiently.