Online check-in, the technological solution to boost tourism this summer

We talk about online check-in as an automation of the check-in processes, from booking to check-out. So, online check-in is a technological solution that will undoubtedly help to boost  tourism during the summer of 2021. 

We are just one step away from “new normality”. This is evidenced by the latest positive datas regarding the tourism sector reactivation and the increase in the rates of COVID-19 vaccinations.

However, for the tourist accommodation sector, new times are coming. Safety distances, capacity limitations and various hygiene measures. The “new normality” brings so many changes to the sector: The day-to-day life of tourist accommodations will no longer be the same and even the guests they receive will be much more strict when it comes to safety and security.  

The only way to transform those tourist accommodation sector challenges into opportunities is to automate check-in processes. By using Online Check-in is possible to avoid physical contact, offer a more secure service to users and inspire confidence to tourists. 

This can be seen reflected in one of the most relevant news stories of the last month, where the government confirmed the authorisation of the digitalisation of check-in registrations and police reports in tourist accommodations with Order INT/321/2021, of 31 March, which came into force on 28 April 2021. 

“Undoubtedly, a point in favour of Online Check-in that the BOE recognises as a technological solution to boost tourism this summer”. 

What is Online Check-in and how will it help tourism this summer? 

Online Check-in consists of carrying out the entire check-in process, from booking to check-out automatically and without contact between guest and host: registration and identification of guests through an online form, personalised digital communication, remote identity verification thanks to the use of a biometric match, signing and modification of contracts online, online payments, automatic generation and sending to the police the travellers’ reports…

Thanks to this technology, contact between guests and owners can be significantly reduced, in full compliance with COVID security standards. A fast, convenient and 100% secure service.

In addition, by adding other solutions such as self check-in, which allows remote access to the property, you will achieve a fully automatic process.

Also, consider that the new post-COVID tourist will be much more demanding than usual. Apart from comfort and services, they will be looking for other factors such as health, social distancing or capacity limitations.

For this reason, offering the possibility for your guests to check-in from their mobile phones is a way of generating trust in the guest and boosting tourism this summer: The customer will make the reservation with full confidence that they will be able to enjoy a contact-free stay. 

In which types of tourist accommodation can online check-in be applied as a technological solution that boost tourism? 

No matter the type of tourist accommodation, they all share the same purpose: to offer the guest a secure, fast and contactless experience that inspires confidence when travelling. From hotels, flats, hostels, villas, campsites or rural houses, you will be able to customise online check-in to each type of property and need.

Furthermore, as we mentioned at the beginning, a few weeks ago the government authorised digitalisation. This means that from now on you will be able to collect your guests’ signatures and save the guest books in digital format.

This regulation, Order INT/321/2021 of 31 March, came into force on 28 April 2021. We give you all the details here. 

What are the advantages of Online Check-in? 

Regardless of the type of property you manage, automating the check-in process is a great idea. 

The advantages of using this technology go beyond the reactivation of tourism in the coming months. The benefits of this tool for both guests and property owners are as follows:

How does it improve the guest experience?

The guest experience is significantly enhanced by the implementation of online check-in.

This option offers guests the possibility to check-in in a very convenient way, from their mobile phone and in just 1 minute. It also offers a great deal of flexibility in terms of check-in and check-out times, and eliminates waiting times. 

Travellers are becoming more and more technological, by the way they demand less waiting times and easier processes. This is already seen in the aviation sector, where you can get your boarding pass and check in from the airline’s own application, considerably reducing physical waiting times.

This is quite similar to the online check-in process in hotels or holiday homes.

The fact that this technology allows for less contact with other people is also a key factor. As mentioned above, guests will feel more secure during their stay, what leads to a greater willingness to book more holiday rentals.

How does it benefit the owner?

In terms of how it benefits owners, the main advantage lies in the large amount of time and money they can save by automating the check-in process. 

Forget the paperwork, the trips to the property to hand over the keys or registering travellers’ reports one by one with the authorities, you will be able to improve the efficiency of your business.

In addition, offering guests the possibility to check-in online will result in a higher number of bookings and positive reviews for your property.This will improve your property’s ranking on search engines.