Inhoudsopgave
A guest walks into the lobby after a long journey. Before anyone at reception has to explain a thing, she can see where breakfast is served, when the wellness area closes and which room tomorrow's event is in. No long list of hotel rules, just calm, attractive information that appears at exactly the right moment.
That is the power of digital signage in a hotel. A screen is not just a digital poster. Used well, it becomes an extra host: always available, multilingual and easy to update when plans change.
A good hotel screen answers questions before guests have to ask them.
Hotel guests are mainly looking for certainty
Where can I have breakfast? What time is check-out? Is the pool still open? Where is Room Amsterdam?
These are familiar questions for hotel staff. For guests, every hotel is a new environment. Good screen communication removes small uncertainties, gives guests peace of mind and reduces repetitive questions at reception.
A screen works best when it does not try to say everything at once. Show breakfast information in the morning, local tips around lunchtime and dinner, the bar or wellness later in the day. Relevance makes a screen more useful than an overloaded presentation that stays the same all day.
15 inspiring ways to use hotel screens
1. A personal welcome
Welcome guests, travel groups or conference attendees as they arrive. A simple message with the group or event name immediately gives the feeling that everything has been well prepared.
2. Breakfast times that change automatically
Automatically show the right times on weekdays and weekends. Add the location and, if useful, expected busy periods.
3. Today's programme
Combine events, workshops, dinners and activities in one calm daily overview. Ideal for resorts, conference hotels and venues hosting many groups.
4. Digital room directions
Show guests which meeting is taking place in which room. Put an overview near the entrance and smaller screens in corridors or near rooms. Een duidelijke pijl kan soms meer doen dan een alinea tekst.
5. Restaurant and bar displays
Present the menu of the day, a signature cocktail or the chef's special. Let breakfast, lunch and dinner content appear automatically at the right time.
6. Highlight hotel facilities
Not every guest knows that a gym, sauna, bike rental or late check-out is available. A screen can highlight these facilities without feeling pushy.
7. Local inspiration
Show what is happening nearby: a market, museum, walk or event. Add travel time or distance. Een goede lokale tip kan zomaar het leukste onderdeel van iemands dag worden.
8. Weather and practical daily tips
A weather forecast becomes more useful with context: “Regen vanmiddag? Paraplu's zijn verkrijgbaar bij de receptie.” That turns information into actual service.
9. Room upgrades and packages
Show available upgrades, breakfast packages or wellness offers at a relevant moment. Keep the message helpful and concrete.
10. Check-out information
Clearly explain when guests need to check out, where they can leave luggage and how they can arrange transport.
11. Reviews from other guests
A short, genuine review can make a restaurant, spa or activity feel more credible. Only use quotes for which permission has been given.
12. Information near elevators
Guests are already waiting here. Use that brief moment of attention for floor information, opening hours or one useful tip. Nobody wants to read a novel while the elevator is arriving.
13. Meeting and conference communication
Show programme changes, speakers, sponsors and break times. A change can be updated centrally without printing new signs.
14. Information for international guests
Rotate languages or create the appropriate language version for each screen. Keep every message short and support text with clear icons where possible.
15. Safety and timely notices
Use screens for temporary route changes, a closed facility or an important notice. For official emergency communication, an approved safety system remains necessary.
From information board to guest experience
The best hotel screens do not feel like advertising. They help guests make their day easier, more enjoyable or more interesting. So do not start with what the hotel wants to say. Start with what the guest wants to know in that place and at that moment.
Location | What is the guest looking for? | Suitable content |
|---|---|---|
Lobby | Orientation | Welcome, daily programme, breakfast and facilities |
Lift | Short practical information | Floors, opening hours and tips |
Restaurant | What can I get here? | Menu, specials and opening hours |
Vergaderzone | Where do I need to go? | Rooms, programme and changes |
Receptie | What do I need to know now? | Check-in, check-out and practical service |
A simple daily schedule for hotel content
Time | Suitable content |
|---|---|
06.30–10.30 | Breakfast, weather, departure times and daily programme |
10.30–14.00 | Facilities, local tips and lunch |
14.00–17.00 | Check-in information, rooms and activities |
17.00–22.00 | Dinner, bar, wellness and evening programme |
22.00–06.30 | Night information, Wi-Fi and reception contact |
This is not a fixed formula. A business hotel, boutique hotel and holiday park each have a different rhythm. The principle remains the same: let the content move with the guest.
The best content is often not the content that gets noticed most, but the content that appears exactly when someone needs it.
How to start without a big project
Start with one screen in a place where many questions come together, such as the lobby. Then choose three types of content:
Information that is always relevant.
Information that changes by day or time.
One inspirational message, zoals een arrangement of lokale tip.
Use a brand template, schedule the content and spend a week noting which questions guests still ask at reception. This quickly shows you what is missing from the screen.
A useful way to start: not with technology, but with your guests' questions.
What makes hotel signage pleasant to watch?
A hotel is not an airport. Guests want information, but they also want to relax. Avoid screens that shout for attention with too much text, animation or too many offers at once.
Keep messages short. One idea per slide is often enough.
Use clear hierarchy. Make the most important information stand out first.
Give content room to breathe. White space is not wasted space.
Use visuals with a purpose. A beautiful photo is nice, but a clear icon can sometimes be more useful.
Let content change. A screen is allowed to be calm for a moment.
See what it can look like
firmo has created hotel templates for welcome messages, breakfast, guest information and daily programmes. Adjust text, images and colours in the browser and publish the content to the screen.
Frequently asked questions about digital signage in hotels
What is the difference between digital signage and hotel TV?
Digital signage is usually designed for central information screens in public areas. Hotel TV focuses on the television in the guest room and can also include channels, streaming and personalised information.
Where should you place an information screen in a hotel?
Common locations include the entrance, lobby, reception, elevators, restaurant and routes to meeting rooms. Choose a place where guests naturally look or regularly search for information.
Should every screen show the same content?
No. The content should fit the location. A lobby screen might show the daily programme, while a restaurant screen can focus on menus and opening hours.
How often should hotel content be updated?
Practical information should be updated as soon as something changes. General content can last longer, but regularly check that times, prices and activities are still correct.
Do I need technical knowledge?
With browser-based software, a hotel team can generally manage daily content themselves. Check beforehand that the screen or device is suitable for the chosen solution.