Case Study: Detroit Marriott achieves enhanced security and streamlined access control with dormakaba (Saflok)

Saflok Setting standards in the hospitality market

Detroit Marriott, the 73‑story, 1,300‑room luxury hotel, needed to replace a 1992 electronic access system with modern locks that offered automatic deadbolts, easy guest/staff use, central retrieval of access rights, multiple‑keying plans and Windows‑based management. dormakaba (via its Saflok brand) was selected to provide the upgrade, deploying Saflok’s Messenger online system, System 6000 and MT multi‑technology locks.

dormakaba implemented Messenger, System 6000 and MT locks with staff smart‑keys, centralized server control and integration with the hotel’s energy‑management system. The solution enabled remote access‑right changes, centralized lock data for quicker investigations and insurance claims, multi‑area key encoding, and automated thermostat control; over one year the Saflok systems secured roughly 500,000 reservations across the 1,300 rooms. The rollout was smooth with dormakaba support (including Ethernet fixes), producing measurable efficiency, better security tracking and reduced operating costs, and positive guest and staff feedback.

Detroit Marriott

Jeff Coates

Multi Unit Director of Loss Prevention