Safety and Convenience: Aiphone & Stay at Joe’s Airbnb 

Introduction 

In downtown Indianapolis, Stay at Joe’s Airbnb apartments sought a new security solution. With guests ranging from school sports teams participating in local tournaments to groups attending conventions, business owner Joe Morcos required a quick, structured method of entry for his clientele. Additionally, Morcos and his assistants needed a way to manage access for up to 77 people at a time. 

Aiphone addressed the Airbnb’s challenges by providing both intercoms and access control. Now, with efficient security procedures, guests can congregate, rest, and prepare for events in a safer, more organized environment.  

Challenges 

Before Aiphone products were implemented, Stay at Joe’s had an incomplete security solution. Guests could not communicate with visitors trying to get through the front door. Morcos and his assistant, Caterin Banegas, found themselves repeatedly called back to the property to assist locked-out guests. Also, as Stay at Joe’s is an expanding business, the owner needed a scalable access control platform that would allow him to incorporate more properties into the system over time. 

Absent Centralized Access Control 

Morcos was unable to unlock doors remotely or determine who could enter the apartments after check-out. Only guests and cleaning staff were given codes to enter the keypads, yet this did not remove the possibility of people returning at inconvenient times using the same, still-valid pins. The Airbnb did not have a system that restricted codes to specific timeframes. Moreover, as Morcos wanted to continue operating away from the property, he needed a way to maintain organization and oversight off-premises. 

Missing Front Door Security 

Without an intercom at the building’s entrance, Stay at Joe’s was missing a key safety component. An intercom allows communication with visitors to confirm their identities before granting access. It also signals to outsiders that the business it protects is not a place where anyone can enter. For Morcos, he wanted a reliable, hardwired intercom to provide the added layer of communication while helping uphold the image of his property. 

Lack of Reliability 

Inconsistent connectivity prevented guests from gaining quick access to their accommodations. Wi-Fi-based keypads failed when the batteries died or in the event of disruptive weather. If a storm interfered with connectivity, guests would have to wait up to twenty-five minutes for Morcos or another staff member to arrive. Delays sometimes resulted in negative reviews, encouraging the owner to seek a solution that would save the reputation of his business as well as eliminate the need for him to be on-site.  

Aiphone’s Solution 

AC Nio Access Control 

The incorporation of Aiphone’s AC Nio access control platform, which includes AC-10K-1G keypads mounted outside each apartment, is another asset to Stay at Joe’s. Through AC Nio, guests can only access their respective apartments during a certain time frame. At check-in, they enter their pin and enjoy their stay. At check-out, building access is no longer available.  

“It’s worth the price,” says Banegas, who is now free to manage access away from the property. She can perform the functions of a front desk without being inside the Airbnb or having to hire additional staff.

The GT Series 

The GT intercom is a reliable, hardwired solution free from wireless connections and reliance on batteries. Therefore, there is no risk of the intercom dying, or struggling to maintain a connection during storms. Users simply enter through the main door in seconds after typing a code. If guests order food, delivery people can use the intercom directory to locate the right apartment and speak to guests.  

Multiple guests have reported feeling safer knowing that an additional layer of protection has been added. The GT intercom signals to outsiders that only authorized guests may enter. Additionally, the conversations it facilitates further reinforce the building’s security. Outsiders can confirm their identities before entry, as well as incoming guests that have separated from their group.

Benefits 

Safety and Convenience 

Before installing the GT intercom outside the Airbnb, Stay at Joe’s went without a major security component. However, since the installment, guests can use their in-unit tenant stations to communicate with the front door. Whether they are buzzing in group members or delivery people, there is clarity and control centered around who enters the building. 

Simplified Access Management 

Stay at Joe’s involves several properties, including houses, which are currently taking on Aiphone intercoms and access control. As Morcos acquires more properties, he will not be limited by Aiphone. With AC Nio, Morcos can spread access control to other locations without overhauling the system. Each property can be managed as its own partition while still being overseen on a central platform. 

Vacation Rental Software Integration 

AC Nio has a unique ability to integrate with third-party vacation rental software like Hostaway. When guests enter their information, names and numbers are instantly sent to AC Nio. The platform then generates two access pins, one for the building’s main entrance, and one for the selected apartment. Guests receive their pin codes via email, saving time in that Banegas does not need to distribute codes or upload guest information herself. 

Results 

Guest Reassurance 

Now that both the GT Series intercom and AC Nio have been initiated, Stay at Joe’s is thriving. Guests have voiced their satisfaction in knowing that only the right people can enter the building. When outside individuals approach the complex, they can speak to guests directly. Set timeframes prevent apartment access before and after check-out. Overall, the process has become more structured: pins are distributed, guests enjoy their stay, and communication flows freely. 

Reduced Labor for Managers 

Guests receive their access codes without inconveniencing the property manager: AC Nio takes the information directly from Hostaway and emails pins without creating additional tasks for the owner and staff. Additionally, Morcos is now able to operate away from the property without the need to return to help guests. The hardwired GT intercom solution is unaffected by weather or the threat of dead batteries. This eliminates any risk of guests not being able to enter the Airbnb.