Guidebook or guest experience app?

Knowing which solution will work best can be tricky, our Head of Marketing Allana highlights the differences, to help you make the right choice for you and your guests

Traditional guidebooks, once the companion of every traveler, provide information about destinations, attractions, and include local tips.

The well-worn pages offering a quick flip to the nearest restaurant or supermarket, allowing guests to self-serve and manage their experience in real-time.

However, as technology moves forward and we become used to having information thats up to date and instantaneous, these printed guides no longer do the job. Digital guidebooks and guest experience apps have emerged as valuable companions for modern travellers. But what are the differences and which one best suits your business?

Digital guidebooks

The rich content of traditional books all conveniently stored on your device. With easy and instant information, that takes up less space, digital guidebooks are an affordable place to start your digital innovation.

Often very quick and simple to set-up, you add your content into a basic CMS – like your website – and launch it. With basic branding and limited customisation, it takes minimal time to go from initial entry to go live.

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Basic personalisation

Often very low-cost, these apps can fall short when it comes to customisation, personalisation, and the seamless integration of real-time updates.

Typically offering a fixed set of information and branding, with limited scope for personalisation. Travellers may find themselves scrolling through generic web content that may not align with their specific interests or preferences.

Web app constraints

Most digital guidebooks operate as web-apps that are accessible through browsers, like your website. This isn’t as mobile-friendly in both look and functionality as native apps, which you download to your device from Apple or Google Play stores.

While convenient, this often results in slower performance and a less intuitive user experience. Web apps also require internet access to function – a limitation for businesses with poor or no WiFi access – whereas native apps only need the internet to receive updates.

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Static content

Guidebook web apps can become outdated quickly. They often lack real-time updates, leaving travellers with old information that doesn’t reflect the dynamic nature of the travel and leisure industry.

With a native guest app, you can link your website and app content so you only have one central place to update!

Who are digital guidebooks for?

Ideal for single private holiday rentals, touring or camping only sites, small businesses or B&Bs, with no need for integrations, push notifications or instant updates.

They replace your printed welcome packs or guidebook.

How much are digital guidebooks?

Prices start from around £9 per month for a single property*, so a typical holiday park can pay from £50 – £200+ per month.

*Many providers operate on a sliding scale, based on the number of units, rather than a fixed fee for the tech and services provided.

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Guest experience apps

Guest experience apps, like Holidaymaker, take the idea of traditional guidebooks and take them to the next level.

Being native applications, they are optimised for specific operating systems such as Apple or Android, and have full access to the functions on a smartphone e.g. camera, calendar, and push notifications.

Resulting in better performance, faster navigation, and a seamless experience, that compliments your existing customer service.

Created to enhance guest experience before, during and after stay. Empowering them to self-serve, freeing your valuable staff, and increasing engagement without adding more work for your teams.

Added features such as a countdown and enhanced booking updates build excitement pre-stay. Whilst on park it acts as a concierge app, showcasing attractions, activities and events, so they can plan their stay, and create personalised itineraries. Even after they return home, regardless of where the booking came from, you have a direct way to re-engage with them.

Revenue generation

Target guests with personalised rebooking offers, options to extend their stay, upsells, events and promotions, increasing your on-site spend and generating more direct revenue.

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Drive holiday home sales, by showcasing what’s available, bringing more leads.

We have a new holiday home sales channel launching soon, that will allow you to push listings to third party websites, expanding your reach and creating one central place for you to update.

Save costs by replacing printed brochures and flyers with your own app. Why not go even further and add seeview digital displays in and around your site too?

Personalised and up to date content

Offer personalisation that caters to different segments, such as owners, holiday guests, visitor, as well as sub-types such as families, or dog owners. Helping to ensure your guests see content that is relevant to them, whilst the ability to log in with their booking allows events and messaging to be accurate to during their stay.

Push notifications and in-app messaging provides guests with real-time information. Such as schedule changes, promotions, booking offers, local events, and local recommendations.

All combining to provide a complete guest experience app showcasing everything you have to offer.

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Who are guest experience apps for?

Some of our customers include holiday parks, boutiques, resorts, private rental companies, co-working spaces, attractions, spas and wellness retreats, towns, pubs and inns. Read some of our case studies here.

How much are guest experience apps?

Prices start from around £350 per month for a Holidaymaker guest experience app with platform access, see our standard pricing here.

 

Discover how Holidaymaker could help improve your guest experience with your own branded demo…

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Written by Allana

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