Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is finishing the roll-out of technology that lets guests check in and unlock doors with their smartphones, even as the company seeks a new CEO.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is finishing the roll-out of technology that lets guests check in and unlock doors with their smartphones, even as the company seeks a new CEO and explores financial and strategic options for the future.

“It’s business as usual,” said Chris Holdren, senior vice president of Starwood’s preferred guest program and digital group. Mr. Holdren helps manage the innovation lab that developed the keyless entry smartphone system for Starwood’s luxury Aloft, Element and W hotels.

In February, Frits van Paasschenresigned as CEO after failing to meet corporate goals, such as increasing the number of hotels under the Starwood banner as quickly as the company wanted, according to Starwood’s chairman, Bruce Duncan. Adam Aron, a member of the board of directors since 2006, was named interim CEO.

In April, the company said first-quarter revenue fell to $316 million, from $364 million for the same period a year before. CFO Tom Mangas told financial analysts the company is reviewing technology projects, “to make sure we are deploying our resources against the key business drivers of our hotels,” according to a transcript of the conference call from Seeking Alpha. Mr. Mangas promised an update about technology strategy by July. Starwood has been using analytics for a revenue optimization project and the company is one of many to set up innovation labs here, to find competitive advantage in IT.

As yet, no projects at the lab have been paused and there is no change in strategy at the lab, Mr. Holdren told CIO Journal. “It’s typical review to bring the business up to speed,” he said. The board regularly discusses work going on at the lab, Mr. Holdren said, “probing and making sure what we’re building isn’t a gimmick.”

Improving the check-in process is key to customer satisfaction because the initial moments in a stay most influence a guest’s opinion of the company, Mr. Holdren said. Smartphone check-in and keyless entry ran in pilot tests at two Aloft hotels for six months last year. Last month, Starwood began a large launch, going live in 125 hotels so far. Roll-out to all 150 luxury outlets worldwide is expected to be done this summer. A version of the technology for Apple Inc. Apple Watch is also available.

The lab is now working on mobile apps and wearable technology for hotel employees, to free them from the front desk and improve efficiency, he said.

All major projects at the lab that become services or products are tracked for financial returns for three years, Mr. Holdren said. “Anything we’re pursuing has to tie to core corporate objectives,” he said. “Many things would be cool and awesome to pursue but not if they’re not tied to a core value.”