Canary Buys OpenKey to Expand Mobile Hotel Keys

Canary Technologies, a guest management platform, has acquired mobile key provider OpenKey for an undisclosed amount, aiming to expand mobile key compatibility across more hotel door-lock systems.

CEO Harman Singh Narula said the goal is to meet rising expectations for mobile-first room access and faster arrivals, while OpenKey CEO Stephen Bodnar said customers will benefit from Canary’s broader guest-journey tools.

What it changes for hotels and travelers

Mobile keys only improve the guest experience when they work consistently across a hotel’s existing lock hardware. The acquisition is positioned as a practical fix for a common rollout challenge: uneven lock coverage that can force guests back to the front desk when devices or locks aren’t supported.

OpenKey also offers mobile check-in capabilities—promoted as allowing guests to verify ID and skip the front desk—aligning with hotels’ push to reduce lobby queues and speed up peak check-in periods.

Canary’s broader push into AI-driven hotel operations

The OpenKey deal lands amid Canary’s wider expansion into automation across the guest journey. The company announced an $80 million Series D round on June 12, 2025, to accelerate growth and expand the AI capabilities of guest engagement tools.  

More recently, in late 2025, Canary said it expanded work with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by rolling out AI Voice to thousands of franchisees.  

CEO Harman Singh Narula said, “Industry data shows that hotels miss up to 30 percent of inbound calls, a third of which are to make a booking. With Canary’s AI Voice, hotels can now ensure 100 percent of calls are answered.”

Photo by Cloris Ying on Unsplash