There are 3.5 billion smartphone users in the world — close to half of the entire global population. About 70% of millennials use their smartphones to research, book, and manage their trips. But with millions of apps in the Apple Store and Google Play Store, how can you get guests to download yours?
In a competitive, mobile-driven market, having an app for your hotel is something you should seriously consider. It improves the guest experience, builds loyalty, and creates a stronger direct relationship with your customers.
The most common reason guests don't download mobile hotel apps is that they find them useless for the duration of their stay. If all the hotel information is already available on the website, there's no compelling reason to install another app. Your app must deliver unique value that guests can't get elsewhere.
The answer is simple: make the app essential. What do guests use more than anything at a hotel? The key to their room. Setting up mobile keys is the best way to get guests to install and keep your app. When guests have their room key on their smartphone, they open the app multiple times daily — and that's when they discover your other services.
Beyond mobile keys, build value through chat and feedback features, mobile check-in and checkout, upselling services like restaurant reservations and spa bookings, and a loyalty rewards program. Each feature makes the app more indispensable and increases the chances it stays on the guest's phone.
Address common concerns head-on: mobile keys use encrypted communication and device-specific credentials, making them more secure than traditional keycards. Modern apps are optimized to minimize battery drain. By just having the app installed, there's no real impact on battery life — and guests should know this.
The formula is straightforward: mobile keys create the initial install reason, integrated services create ongoing engagement, and the loyalty program creates retention. Together, these turn your app from a nice-to-have into an essential part of the guest experience.