Trade file · Building systems
Hospitality Radar follows 5,780 hotel projects in planning, construction and renovation. For switches, sockets, keycard and guest room controls, about 940 of them are being specified right now, while the products are still being chosen, and about 1,120 are buying. A product that is already in the spec goes into the tender with the best odds.
Hotel projects entering specification for switches, sockets, keycard and guest room controls, by quarter.
Hotel projects entering the purchasing window for switches, sockets, keycard and guest room controls, by quarter.
Estimate from each project's opening year and typical lead times for this trade. Later quarters fill up as new projects are announced, so a lower bar further out is not a falling market.
Cities with the most hotel projects being specified for this trade right now. The city file opens with your trade on top.
Projects being specified now or entering specification in the next 12 months, by region.
Share of projects with a known class. Our coverage is strongest in upscale and luxury hotels; midscale and select-service projects are being added.
For switches, sockets, keycard and guest room controls, specification typically runs from 20 to 12 months before opening and purchasing from 10 to 4 months before opening. There are two ways into a project: through the specification or through the tender. A product that is already in the spec goes into the tender with the best odds.
The interior architect sets the colour, shape and finish of switch and socket plates, while the MEP or electrical consultant translates this into a technical specification covering load requirements, wiring type and GRMS integration. Brand standards from international hotel groups mainly fix the technical system choice, pushing buyers toward GRMS-capable suppliers, while independent and design-led hotels keep more freedom over the switch manufacturer itself.
Guest room control decisions are typically locked in well before first fix, while the switches, sockets and GRMS hardware itself ships closer to second fix and opening. Suppliers who track both moments see a project's buying window before a tender is issued.
Hotel brands are extending guest room access and control beyond the physical keycard, moving toward smartphone-based keyless entry and presence sensing. That undercuts the old insert-the-card-for-power trigger that classic key card switches depend on.
Source: mews.com
In-room tablets increasingly bundle lighting, climate, curtain and do-not-disturb control alongside the conventional wall switch, as seen in Interel's integration with SuitePad guest tablets. Wall switches remain standard in entry-level rooms, but the tablet is becoming the primary control surface in higher segments.
Source: tageskarte.io
Design-led switch ranges in matt black, brushed metal and bespoke finishes are replacing plain white plates in hotel guest rooms. Manufacturers such as Hamilton Litestat and Wandsworth have both expanded their finish ranges specifically for hospitality projects.
Source: hoteldesigns.net
USB-C fast-charging outlets, supporting up to 100W and 10Gbps data transfer, are becoming standard alongside or in place of USB-A sockets at bedside positions. Suppliers now pair USB-C with conventional switch ranges rather than selling it as a separate accessory.
Source: hoteldesigns.net
Guest room control technology is consolidating under larger building technology groups. Siemens has brought Interel's ecosystem into its Smart Infrastructure business, while Honeywell has extended its INNCOM platform with INNcontrol 5 for full-property energy and guestroom management.
Source: siemens.com
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As of November 2026. Figures are estimates, rounded, and recalculated with every update of the radar.