Live from the buzzing HITEC trade show floor, The Modern Hotelier sits down with Darien Long, SVP of Specialty Access Control at dormakaba — and trust us, this isn’t your average corporate interview.

From growing up in small-town Texas with a love for sunsets and strong coffee to running a 250-person team in a global powerhouse, Darien’s journey is packed with grit, charm, and game-changing insights.

In this episode, you'll discover:

The best advice she ever got (spoiler: it’s about money vs. experience)
Why fashion-forward PPE should be a thing (yes, really)
The future of hotel access, cloud tech, and how AI could transform your next stay

Tune in to find out why access control is no longer just about locks — it’s about experience.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OvJp0-_L9hs

This episode is sponsored by dormakaba: https://www.dormakaba.com/us-en

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Darien on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darienlong/
dormakaba Americas: https://www.dormakaba.com/us-en

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/170

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

#170: Exploring Access Control for Hotels | with Darien Long

The Modern Hotelier

#170: Exploring Access Control for Hotels | with Darien Long