How to streamline operations and elevate guest journeys in your pub accommodation with digital check-in solutions

At Access Hospitality, we are on a mission to help pubs with rooms create stronger guest experiences and boost profits with the latest AI-powered software solution that modifies your guest check-in/out experiences with upsells, personalisation and ease. In this article, we will unpack the reasons why digitising your check-in processes works, how they will help you combat operational challenges and ways you can take your pub with rooms business to new levels.  

Why digital check-in/out solutions work 

Maximising your revenue is more than guaranteed bookings and a high turnover of guests. Yes, it is important, but ensuring your guest journey is seamless, unique and efficient from start to finish is what makes your pub stand out from the rest. Around 60% of guests who have stayed in pubs with rooms in the past 2 years have said that they prefer pubs with accommodation over alternative hotel options, so having a check-in system that can keep up with the rising demand in bookings is crucial.  

Implementing smart digital check-in/out solutions enables guests to enjoy their stay in their own time with 24/7 contactless booking, digital key cards and personalised offerings. Not only does digital check-in/out software enhance the guest journey, but it also contributes to your operational efficiency, cutting costs and reducing front desk needs.  

Enhance your pub operational efficiency with self-check-in software that gives you results 

Every pub business faces its own challenges, and when accommodation is included in the mix, it can complicate things. Here are a few ways digital check-in solutions can help you overcome these operational issues to help elevate your guest journeys.  

• Eliminate queues at busy times – Having a self-service kiosk desk or contactless check-in processes helps you stay in control of the rush. This will also give your guests flexibility to check in when they want without the time pressure.  
• Accurate guest data – Automated check-in processes eliminate the risk of human errors such as misspelt names, email addresses or contact numbers so you can keep customer data safe, secure and specific.  
• Upsell offers – Promote services and engage with guests during their check-in and check-out experience to boost sales to the local community or for your own resources without the added sales pressure to guests.  
• Reduce front desk staffing – Finding the right staffing balance to keep your accommodation and restaurant areas managed can cause an issue, especially if you are understaffed. Having a digital kiosk will remove the need for someone always manning the front desk and frees up staff to focus on busier areas of the pub without affecting the guest experience.  

5 easy ways to personalise guest journeys with check-in data 

Creating unforgettable stays for guests is one of the best ways to drive direct bookings and guarantee returning sales. Customers play a pivotal role in how successful a business is, with an estimated 94% of bookers saying that reviews have played a role in their decision to book pub accommodation. Check-in data can be a useful and insightful way to take a closer look at what your guests want so you can give them the best experience from start to finish. Here are 5 simple ways check-in data can be used to elevate your guests’ satisfaction.  

1. Develop guest profiles 

Use your PMS or CRM platforms to gather reservation information, dietary requirements and past stay preferences to build customer profiles. This will enable staff to recognise returning visitors and offer personalised incentives such as a favourite food, preferred bedding or a complimentary offer that makes their experience even more special.  

2. Personalise pre- and post-stay offers  

Send guests pre-arrival messages that are automated and personalised with their name and upcoming booking. You can offer guests add-on packages, special discounts and exclusive experiences that align with their past behaviours.  

3. Tailor your marketing strategies 

Use customer check-in data to drive your marketing strategies and target past visitors with personalised return offers to drive direct bookings and boost sales. Capture your audience with competitions, flash offers and exclusive packages that align with previous customer patterns.  

4. Self-check-in personalisation 

Provide guests with the option of self-check-in through their mobile device or your self-service kiosk which you can use to collect data about their preferences before they arrive such as a room view, add-ons or special requests.  

5. Prepare for future guests 

Help staff recognise what guests want by analysing popular behaviours and past requests so they can personalise future stays. Highlight regular guests and ensure they are given recognition with thoughtful incentives, personalised greetings and extra care with their booking to leave a long-lasting impression.  

Unlock your pub potential with digital self-service solutions  

Digital self-service solutions are there to make sure your pub is running smoothly behind the scenes and to produce the best guest experience. As we have discovered in this article, digital check-ins are there to help pub and hotel businesses elevate their guest offerings to maximise revenue, boost sales with informative data and support their CRM and PMS platforms to record customer trends.  

At Access Hospitality, we provide you with the latest digital check-in software that drives upsells, streamlines operations and takes your pub accommodation to the next level. With seamless integrations into our Guestline PMS and CRM software, you can take your check-in experiences into the modern era with contactless keycards, mobile app control and personalised offerings.  

Learn more about our smart pub-friendly tech solutions to streamline your operations and maximise your guest experiences.