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Check-in is the guest’s welcome to a hotel, hostel or any other type of tourist accommodation, and this process plays a fundamental role in their travel experience.
It is important that this process be comfortable for travelers, but also for employees, since the quality of this welcome depends on them.
In this article we propose some ideas to improve the check-in process in your tourist accommodation : ideas so that guests have a comfortable first reception and the staff team can work more efficiently.
Why is it important to improve the check-in process?
Check-in represents the authentic arrival at the destination for the guest, since the establishment is the place where you can definitely land and settle before starting your trip. This is why it is essential that this process be pleasant.
If the check-in process is slow or problematic, it is most likely that these guests will not choose the hotel again on their next stay in the same destination.
Another important issue, for which it is worth investing in improving this reception process, are the hotel employees: an efficient check-in process allows the staff to serve guests efficiently, avoiding waiting and discontent on the part of customers and thus making your day more productive.
What ways to check in can a hotel offer?
There are different types of check-in processes, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most common:
Check in person
This is the most traditional check-in process and consists of guests presenting themselves at the hotel reception to register and collect the keys to the accommodation.
It can become a slow process if there are many guests waiting or the reception staff are busy attending to other tasks. However, it has the advantage that guests can ask questions directly to the staff and receive personalized advice about the hotel and the area.
Although it is a traditional registration model that many hotels are gradually discarding, it is still a highly valued form of welcome by guests as long as it is done quickly.
That is why this form of check-in has begun to migrate to an express check-in format , more agile than the option of registering in person at reception, as it is a simple and quick delivery of the keys.
Its disadvantage, on the other hand, is that it does not make it easy for guests to collect suggestions, references or recommendations for the area from hotel staff.
remote check in
Online and remote check-in is an increasingly common process in modern tourist accommodation. It consists of the fact that guests can check in through their mobile phones or through the hotel’s own website.
This process is very convenient for guests, as it makes it easy for them to register from anywhere and at any time, obviously saving any kind of wait.
In addition, remote check-in also brings advantages for hotel staff , since it reduces the amount of work at the reception and allows better organization to focus on other important tasks.
automatic check in
Automated check -in usually works through a mobile app, and can also help streamline the check-in process and reduce the need for human staff.
This form of registration combines characteristics of remote check-in and express check-in: comfort, speed and independence to access the accommodation.
In addition, many hotels include access machines to check in at the reception, without the need to resort to staff and as an alternative to mobile registration. These entry software usually offer recommendations and guides of the area for the traveler.
How to improve the check-in process of a tourist accommodation
Considering all the alternatives, it is time to decide. Here are some ideas to make the check-in process easier for hotel guests and employees:
- Check in online or automated. Among all the options, it is positioned as the form of registration most valued by travelers, since it is an agile reception method that reduces the time that guests spend waiting at the reception to check-in.
- Prepare and schedule the reception process. In advance of their arrival, asking guests to provide certain information, such as their passport number or payment information, will make the check-in process much faster and smoother. This can help avoid unnecessary delays.
- Personalized assistance . If the hotel has enough staff, it may be interesting to offer personalized assistance for guests who request it. Thus, it is possible to combine an online or automated registration form for those who prioritize agility, together with the assistance service to, for example, help with luggage or tourist recommendations about the area.
Courtesy images: Freepik
