Hospitality is a billion-dollar industry worldwide. Although COVID-19 put a halt on travel in 2020, it is expected to pick back up quickly over the coming year now that vaccinations are widely available. Hotels will begin to see a boom in guests after the lull; it is more important than ever to be sure that procedures are in place for a safe but also hassle-free stay. 

Among the list of essential procedures is identity verification for hotels. Identity verification is essential for each and every room that is booked. While most hotels have some form of identity verification, many are still relying on the old way of doing things, namely, visually checking ID when the guest arrives and taking down some key information. Criminals will be taking advantage of this sudden boom in traffic to try and slip falsified IDs through the cracks. 

Additionally, guests that book online are still met with the same check-in process, despite having already provided their information on the online form. For many hotels, verifying guests’ identities twice is necessary because they lack a more sophisticated method of identity verification, but it can be frustrating for guests who are anxious to begin their vacation or rest after a long day of travel. 

What is Digital Identity Verification?

For IDScan.net, digital identity verification is the process of digitally assessing the legitimacy of a customer’s identification document and comparing it to a picture of the customer. Our mobile ID validation technology confirms the ID, reduces fraud, and collects the information from the ID all by snapping a few images. Customers simply open your app or click on a link sent via SMS and are prompted to take 3 images – the front of their ID, the back of their ID, and a selfie. They are told instantly whether their identity has been validated.

IDScan.net’s identity verification automation performs ID verification by checking that the ID is formatted correctly on the front and back. It also checks that the information in the barcode matches what is displayed on the front of the ID. It then queries the USPS database to confirm that the address on the ID exists. Lastly, it moves to the pictures, calculating a confidence percentage in facial match between the photo on the ID and the selfie supplied by the customer. The selfie is run through anti-spoofing processes to assure it is legitimate. 

Benefits of Streamlined Identity Verification

The benefits to the hotel, hotel staff, and guests are many. To name a few, ID scanning is touch-free, improves customer experience, streamlines both mobile and in-person check-in processes, and protects both guests and hotels from fraud and security threats.

We are all more aware and cautious than ever of coming into contact with one another and shared surfaces, so having touchless identity verification is sure to put your guests’ minds at ease. There is no need to hand over your ID to the hotel staff because the ID can be checked with IDScan.net’s mobile scanner, or the check-in process can be completed online before the guest arrives.

Speaking of check-in, how many times have you stood in line at busy hotels waiting while the staff manually verified IDs and entered guest information into the hotel’s database? Our mobile ID scanners complete identity verification, but they can also gather all of the guest information needed from their ID and store it in a secure database for later retrieval. The information is entered automatically and quickly, saving guests and staff time at check-in. It also means that VIP guests or unwanted guests could be tagged for the staff to easily identify. 

Online check-in has a similar benefit in that, when the guest scans their ID for identity verification, the forms can be auto-filled so that they don’t have to spend time tediously entering their information.

Being sure that a guest is who they say they are is essential to identity verification, providing a safe stay for guests, and protecting hotels from crime. In order to do that effectively, it’s important to know that a guest’s identification documents are legitimate. Many criminals, such as human traffickers and drug traffickers, target hotels as a place to hide during illicit activity because of the large number of incoming and outgoing people on a regular basis. Hotel guests are also often international visitors, making it easier to blend in with falsified documentation. Utilizing ID scanning or mobile identity verification eliminates the need to rely on the human eye and staff knowledge of different IDs, ensuring that guests stay safe. It also prevents criminals from using someone else’s information fraudulently in order to pay for their stays.

Risks of Not Completing Identity Verification

The greatest risk of hotels not completing identity verification is being a target for criminals. Fraudulent purchases and potentially dangerous guests should be a serious concern to all hotels and hotel staff.

Additionally, the International Standards Organization has instituted new international compliance standards for hotels with ISO 31030. Not being up to speed on identity verification and Know Your Customer best practices could put hotels at risk of being cited or even fined.

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