Many hotels, including Hilton properties in Cancun and the Valentin Imperial Maya, are quietly using LED lights outside guest rooms to indicate whether someone is inside. These lights, typically red for occupied and green for empty, are intended to help staff with housekeeping or restocking services. However, the system raises significant security concerns for guests.
How the System Works
The occupancy status is determined by combining several factors: door sensors (open or closed), motion detection, and sometimes keycard usage. For example, Legrand’s system updates occupancy status on a corridor display, switching to “absent” when a keycard is removed or no movement is detected after the door closes.
Why This Matters
While hotels claim this improves efficiency, the public display of occupancy creates an obvious risk. A room marked as unoccupied is essentially advertising itself as an easy target for theft or other crimes. One social media user pointed out the unsettling implications: a green light might signal a vulnerable room to potential intruders.
The issue isn’t just theoretical. A former housekeeper at MGM’s Vdara Las Vegas stole over $1 million in jewelry by using her keycard to enter rooms and then bragging about it in a recorded call from prison. This demonstrates how easily the system can be exploited, even without relying on the indicator lights.
Better Alternatives Exist
A more secure approach would be to use the data for internal dashboards accessible only to hotel management, rather than displaying occupancy publicly. Digital “do not disturb” indicators, which replace traditional door hangers, offer a guest-controlled solution that avoids the same risks. These digital systems allow guests to maintain privacy without the potential for external monitoring.
The current system is a clear trade-off between convenience and security, with guests bearing the brunt of the risk. A private dashboard for staff is a far better solution.
