Introduction
These days, hotel guests are looking for much more than just somewhere to stay. They expect seamless digital interactions throughout their time with the hotel, from booking to check out. So if you are developing a mobile app for your hotel, you need to get the core features right from the beginning, though not all of those features need to be available at launch.
At Appricotsoft we’ve worked with a variety of hospitality brands to create apps for their guests that enhance their experience. From our experience, there’s a lot to know about what modules your mobile app should include and which can be left for the second version.
What is the Importance of Getting the Right Combination of Features?
There is a tremendous amount of money to be invested in a hotel app because it is about enhancing guest experience. However, when you try to put everything into the minimum viable product (MVP), it becomes very costly, and timelines are delayed. You may even end up with a feature that your guests will never use.
Our approach is to develop our app with a phased rollout. Version one would include only the “Must Have” features, while future versions may contain deeper engagement features, personalized features, or monetization features. With our Unison Framework, we have been able to create a balance between speed-to-market and quality. This allows your team to launch your mobile app efficiently – with no surprises.
MVP Checklist: Launch with These Features First
First, let’s review the basic features that should be included in your hotel’s mobile app at launch. These are the features that provide your customers (guests) with the most convenience, while the hotel benefits from the operations/workflow they provide.
1. Access to book and manage hotel reservations
Through your existing booking engine and PMS system, you must provide guests with the ability to book their own reservations and easily manage current reservations.
To meet this requirement, guests must have access to the following features:
- The ability to search for available rooms & filter by date, type of room, and cancel a reservation
- Connect the booking engine / PMS to your app
- Allow access to the loyalty program if available
2. Mobile Check In and Check Out
Mobile check-in and check-out are among the biggest conveniences guests are looking for when using a hotel’s app to book their reservations.
Guests should be able to:
- Pre-check in (upload ID)
- View the assignment of their room + arrival time
- Receive push notification or email to confirm their check-in / out
3. Digital Room Key
Digital keys can be confusing for guests, but they are a strong differentiator for hotels whose technology allows them. There are multiple ways to deliver a digital room key:
- Bluetooth / NFC to connect to the door lock
- Integration with existing access control systems
- Backup option – QR code or manual key override
Caution: Not all hotels will be able to implement digital keys from day one. If you do not have the infrastructure in place on launch, consider this feature for phase two of your application development.
4. Guest Messaging & Support
A built-in messaging or chat system will provide guests with the ability to get assistance quickly without having to call the front desk.
- Messaging within the app (integrated with the concierge/staff application)
- Automatic replies to frequently asked questions
- Ability to escalate to human support when necessary
5. Service Ordering
Every type of service should be able to be ordered using only a few taps.
- Customizable service menu
- Staging of service delivery (time slots; ASAP)
- Current status updates (i.e., “your food is on its way”)
6. Push Notifications
Real-time communications with the guest.
- Confirmation of booking, reminders for check-in
- Updates regarding service delivery
- Promotions and upselling
📣 Limit notifications to what is relevant and actionable
7. Feedback & Rating Module
Gain real-time insights about guests before they depart.
- Survey at the end of the stay
- Quick rating prompts following the service
- Escalation process for negative ratings (management).
Features of V2: Nice Features for You to Add to Your App in the Future
Once you have your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) running with your real users, you will be able to see what features are being requested by users based on feedback and use statistics. You can then use this information to create additional layers of functionality based on what you learned:
1. Upselling and Promotions:
More ways for your guests to spend their money and become loyal customers.
- Room upgrades
- Spa reservations
- Late check-outs
- Buyactivities
2. Personalization
By utilizing the information collected from loyalty program participants and the previous stays of each guest, personalize the experience to their expectations as much as possible.
- Preferred type of room, check-in time
- Suggestions for personalized service
- Connecting to a CRM and guest profile database
3. Location-Based Recommendations
Using geolocation, offer recommendations for what to do or see that is near the resort/hotel or within.
- Interactive maps of all hotel facilities
- Local guides or dining and events
4. Payments and Wallets
Allow guests to pay for additional services from the application.
- Digital wallets
- Integrating payment processors like Apple Pay/Google Pay
The Correct Way to build App
We do not believe in having an MVP that has so many unused and outdated features. Instead, we at Appricotsoft believe in a methodical approach by launching apps gradually, setting clear priorities, and making sure that users end up using and enjoying them.
Here’s how we support our clients with their app development life cycles through our Unison Framework and help them get to market faster without the chaos of traditional development processes:
- Weekly demos to provide our clients with visibility into progress on the project.
- Shared documentation/artifacts and decisions so that there are no surprises when it comes to working on the project.
- Built-in quality assurance from day one through code reviews, testing, and project scope control.
Whether you are building your first guest app or updating a legacy guest app, we help you to stay lean and get to market quicker while providing you with the confidence to successfully scale your product.
Bonus: Feature Prioritization Table
| Feature | MVP | V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Booking & Reservation | ✅ | |
| Mobile Check-in/out | ✅ | |
| Digital Room Key | ⚠️ | ✅ |
| Guest Messaging | ✅ | |
| Service Ordering | ✅ | |
| Push Notifications | ✅ | |
| Feedback Module | ✅ | |
| Upselling & Promotions | ✅ | |
| Personalization | ✅ | |
| Location-Based Recommendations | ✅ | |
| Payments / Wallet | ✅ |
Ready to Build a Hotel App That Works?
Whether you’re opening for the first time or looking to revamp your existing experience, we’re here to assist you. This is what we’re all about at – we are a hospitality software development company, and we understand what it takes to make complexity look beautiful on mobile devices.
Let’s build something your guests will love and your team will be proud of.