Guest Information: How to Make a Great Guest Directory

What exactly should a good guest directory contain and how can in-room tablet solutions add real value?

In this blog post, we will summarize which information an appealing guest directory should include and how it should be structured. Discover how modern tablet solutions can become an effective tool for customer retention and help increase guest satisfaction.

Welcoming guests with digital guest tablets

When your guests arrive at your hotel, it's likely they had a long and exhausting journey. They might not remember all the information that they received upon arrival at the reception desk. The guest directory gives guests the opportunity to discover all relevant information that they might need while staying at your hotel. Be it the breakfast service hours, the hotel restaurant menu, or information on laundry and room service, you should ensure it's included in a well-written guest directory. You will find a comprehensive list here.

But there are also other areas where hotel guest directories can be beneficial. Information about the surrounding area, leisure activities, or shopping opportunities, as well as certain phone numbers, could be presented in this form. A short and concise explanation of the technical equipment in the room and how it functions should also be included in every guest directory. This includes the hotel phone, TV, air conditioning, and wifi all work. More complex in-room devices like a TV remote can also be explained with the aid of images or infographics. Complete information is highly important for guest directories. Nonetheless, the pages of your guest directory should not be overloaded with too much. Sufficient space between the different items and a legible font helps make them more aesthetically pleasing for guests.

Using in-room flyers at hotels

In addition to a guest directory, flyers and brochures can also offer guests the chance to find out more information on what to do while on vacation. They will allow the guest to learn valuable things about the region, the most interesting sights, or events that are taking place nearby. Information on public transport, schedules, or hiking trails can also be included. However, it is quality and not quantity that counts. Ask yourself which information your guests really need. Which customer group do they belong to? Are they business travelers or vacationers? Single travelers or families? Make sure that your chosen material matches your hotel and its image.

Making your guest directory attractive for guests

Hotel managers in Dubai have realized that with a few easy steps the guest directory can be utilized as a new tool in their customer retention efforts. In addition to the traditional information, they list supplementary and often free services, from the hotel shuttle to laundry services. High gloss business cards of the hotel or leisure facilities such as museums, shopping centers, restaurants, or beach clubs are also included. The guest directories also include small gifts such as signature pens, perfume samples, fine chocolates, vouchers for different events, or a free drink at the hotel bar.

The benefits of digital guest directories

Tablet-based digital guest directories unite all the information previously mentioned on one single device. The hotel brochure, tourist information, room service and spa menus, phone, feedback form, and more are now only a few clicks away from each other. With a broad selection of newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, and games, in-room tablets can provide premier guest entertainment. SuitePad combines more than a dozen different functions and applications on their hotel digital guest directories. Simultaneously, a digital guest directory can be updated at any time and with very little effort. This reduces both the workload and the costs associated with updating the guest directory on a regular basis.

Looking for more information about how to create a guest directory your guests will actually pick up? Here are some posts that you'll find helpful:

• 8 types of must-have content for the guest directory
• How to create a guest directory in 5 steps
• Creative ideas for an engaging guest directory

If you are interested in this subject or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.

_{- Published on November 07, 2017}