27 examples of brilliant mobile app features for hotels

27 Examples Of Brilliant Mobile App Features For Hotels

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This ebook was created by MaE AgosGno.

MaE is a Project Manager for Pocket Your Shop with over 3 years of mobile

markeGng experience.

27 Examples of Brilliant Mobile App Features For Hotels

2

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TABLE OF CONTENTS


04 INTRODUCTION 08 ESSENTIAL FEATURES 19 CLEVER FEATURES 29 ADVANCED FEATURES 38 7 THINGS TO AVOID 46 CONCLUSION

27 Examples Of Brilliant Mobile App Features For Hotels 3





Part 1

INTRODUCTION







Of travelers who book rooms within a 24 hour period, are using a mobile device.

60% Will download a new app for their upcoming trip.


70%

&

5






With so many of your guests now using smartphones, it has never been more important for your hotel to have a mobile presence. You need to capture your guests’ aEenGon on the devices they use and trust most. Many travelers have become accustomed to using to their smartphones as a travel companion. Guest’s use mobile apps to learn about their surroundings, get direcGons, and most importantly, stay connected. You can use a mobile app and create a “mobile concierge” that engages and informs your guests. Apps create a fun and convenient service that enhances your guests experience.







Having an app alone isn’t the key to mobile markeGng results. Instead, it’s turning that app into an unique, helpful and memorable service for guests. It needs to aEract potenGal guests and keep loyal ones coming back. So, what does it take to create a great mobile app for your property? Our mobile markeGng experts selected 27 features you can refer to when you start creaGng an app for your hotel. Enjoy!







Part 2

ESSENTIAL FEATURES







1

While this is not a feature your guests will interact with, analyGcs collect and organize data on how your app is being used. This is crucial if you want to learn about your mobile audience and how they are using your app.

9


Analy(cs






2

Create a secGon where users can quickly contact the front desk and your staff to request services or ask quesGons. Telephone numbers and emails are basic funcGons that all guests will expect in your app.



Hotel Contacts





3

To keep your guests connected with your hotel, centralize all your social networks into a single place within your app. This makes it easy for guests to follow, like, and interact with you on their favorite social networks.

11


Social Networks






4

Inform your current guests and enGce potenGal ones by showcasing what makes your property unique and the services that you can provide for your guests.

12


Ameni(es






5

Some hotels offer unique acGviGes like yoga, wine tasGngs, and dance classes. However, some guests may not be aware of these. Ensure to include descripGons, locaGons and Gmes in your app for guests to find a place on your property that interests them.

13


In-‐Hotel Ac(vi(es






6

Invite your guests out to dine at the restaurants associated with your hotel or ones you have partnerships with. Be sure to provide guests with informaGon, contacts and menus of the restaurants.

14


In-‐Hotel Dining






7

If your hotel has places to shop, don’t leave them out! Assist your guests find shops they are interested in, while driving traffic through the doors.

15


In-‐Hotel Shopping






8

Save your guests and staff Gme with the useful feature. A FAQ is a great way to relay important informaGon to guests. What Gme is check out? Where do I go for shuEle service? etc.

16


FAQ






9

Guests who are planning an event or meeGng will find it helpful to see what event space opGons you offer. Easy access to reservaGon informaGon and room layouts can make your hotel the go to place for your guests’ events.

17


Event Space






10

The splash screen is the first thing guests will see when they download your hotel’s app. The first impression is important, so make it count.

18


Splash Screen






Part 3

CLEVER FEATURES







11

Detailed descripGons and pictures of the different room layouts are helpful to potenGal guests. Being able to visualize what different opGons they have will help them make more informed decisions.

20


Room Layouts






12

Not all of your guests will have their own car. Showing which places are within walking distance can be very helpful. It is also a nice touch to highlight for guests which restaurants offer delivery service to your hotel.

21


Local Dining






13

Building on top of the last feature, using an interacGve map to show exact locaGons of all nearby venues is a great tool for your guests. They can figure out what they want to do and how to get there.

22


Find Closest






14

Shopping hotspots like malls and outlets can be helpful for guests looking to get out and shop. Similar to restaurants and aEracGons, give guests direcGons, contact, hours and informaGon for each locaGon.

23


Local Shopping






15

Giving your guests different transportaGon opGons let’s them decide which fits their needs best. Providing details about local transportaGon services near your hotel can prove to be a very helpful and thoughjul feature.

24


Transporta(on






16

Everybody loves to save a liEle money. Giving guests coupons for restaurants or aEracGons gives them reasons to explore the area around your hotel.

25


Local Coupons






17

Showing guests what local aEracGons there are around your hotel is great for keeping them engaged. Providing all of this local travel informaGon will keep them coming back to your app.

26


Things To Do






18

Guests are oken interested in aEending local events, especially at extended stay properGes. Highlight the sociable events like local wine walks, swap meets, farmers markets, etc. This also gives previous guests a few reasons to visit again.

27


Local Events






19

Hotels that focus more on families should include a secGon for children and parents to explore. Highlight some fun kid-‐friendly acGviGes to do around in and around your hotel.

28


Kids Corner






Part 4

ADVANCED FEATURES







20

Because of booking apps like KAYAK and Hotel Tonight, most guests will likely book their first stay through one of these services. Return guests who were saGsfied with their stay and the app will likely book their next stay through your app.

30


Mobile Booking






21

Being able to check out through your phone is not only convenient for guests, this also means less checkouts that the front desk has to aEend to.

31


Mobile Checkout






22

Having exclusive rates for your app users will increase the likelihood of guests returning to your property. It adds more value to both your app and your hotel because you are recognizing them for using your hotel’s app.

32


Exclusive Rates






23

Having access to your hotels loyalty program in the app is very helpful for returning guests and keeps them coming back to increase their points and rewards.

33


Loyalty Program






24

Having a place for guests to leave feedback is a great way for you to see some tangible ROI for your app while gaining insight from your guests.

34


Feedback






25

Word of mouth is one of the oldest and most powerful forms of adverGsing. Showcase your TripAdvisor and Yelp accounts in your app so saGsfied guests leave reviews for the world to see.

35


Hotel Reviews






26

Being able to order room service from an app is a feature that stands out and immediately impresses guests. It also increases the likelihood of guests ordering in-‐room services.

36


Room Service






27

While this feature requires more Gme and effort to implement then others, controlling your room from your phone is another feature that has that wow factor. Having this feature is a unique perk your guests will not soon forget.

37


Room Control






Part 5

7 THINGS TO AVOID







1

Apps over 50MB require a Wi-‐Fi connecGon in order to be downloaded. This is a major inconvenience that will result in fewer downloads no maEer how robust it’s features might be.

39


Over 50MB in Size






2

Don’t waste money on features like games or notepads. Guests who are interested in these already have apps dedicated for these funcGons.

40


Needless Features






3

Apps using HTML 5 oken lack solid design or user interface. When working with a developer ensure the app will be wriEen in that operaGng system’s naGve code language.

41


HTML 5






4

Since most guests will have smartphones with high resoluGon screens, your app’s images need to scale accordingly. Images with a lower resoluGon look blurred and fuzzy. Users will be disappointed and likely not use the app.

42


Low-‐Res Images






5

Links that do not work or go to a non-‐existent page are very frustraGng for guests. If not managed correctly, links that are changed might result in problems with your app.

43


Dead Links






6

Design is a criGcal part of app development. If your app looks like this, you will confuse your guests. Even an app with the best contest in the world, will loose countless users if it is poorly designed.

44


Confusing Design






7

This is probably the biggest mistake you can make when creaGng app, you send the user to a place they can’t get back from and it renders your app useless. There always needs to be a back buEon of some kind that is easy to locate.

45


Dead Ends






Part 6

CONCLUSION







A mobile app may be the most important factor in your mobile markeGng strategy, but to truly be effecGve, your app needs to be engaging, convenient and most importantly, reach your potenGal and current customers. ImplemenGng most of these features will give your app the strength to reach it’s full potenGal. If you are interested and want to learn more about mobile markeGng, don’t hesitate to check out our free mobile markeGng resources and blog for more great ebooks, insight and advice.




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27 examples of brilliant mobile app features for hotels

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