Why Hotel Digital Signage Doesn’t Need To Be Expensive & The Best Ways/Places To Use It

A few years ago, digital signage for hotels started to become considered essential equipment, especially for large establishments. But as the covid pandemic created a prolonged period of business uncertainty, many hotels that were looking to adopt it, put their plans to use it on hold, considering it more of a luxury than an investment.

The good news, though, is that it doesn’t require a massive investment to make the most of the opportunities that hotel digital signage offers, and it can deliver multiple benefits. 

To get the right results, you simply need to focus on two things — the quality of the content you offer and putting the right displays in the right places. And we at Saturn Visual can help you do both.

What Are the Best Screens For Hotel Digital Signage?

With a few exceptions, you won’t need screens larger than 55 inches, and in some cases, you can use smaller screens. Remember, though, that the smaller the screen, the more crucial the placement. So, when planning your digital signage, you must consider how easy smaller screens are for your guests to see.

It’s important to use commercial screens for your hotel digital signage displays. They’re designed to be in use 24 hours a day, but any that aren’t needed during certain periods (night-time, for example) can be programmed to switch off during those times, to save energy and screen life.

So what kind of signage will have most effect throughout your hotel?

Digital Signage In The Lobby

The lobby is where your guests will have both their first and last impression of their visit, and it’s a perfect opportunity to make the most of your digital signage. This can be either a free-standing or wall-mounted display, which could show video footage of both in-house facilities, such as a gym, restaurant or spa and local attractions.

Your display can be used to give important information, like times for check-in and out, and promote the quality of your breakfast offering. It can also be used to promote forthcoming events and promotions. 

It’s vital to make this display useful and engaging since the lobby is a place where your guests may need to wait for a while. This waiting period offers a valuable opportunity to educate and excite guests since they’re effectively a captive audience, but it also makes high-quality content vital to make any wait time seem to pass quickly.

Digital Signage For Conferences

You may also be hosting conferences, and it’s important that delegates have all the information they need. When delegates are likely to be arriving, your lobby display could be repurposed to provide event information and directions for them, reverting to other content when the conference has begun.

Digital signage for the conference area itself can help make the event a premium experience for both organisers and delegates. Screens in a freestanding enclosure can indicate which rooms are being used by which companies. They can also show the conference’s agenda, as well as reminders when lunch or coffee breaks are coming to an end, to aid the smooth running of the event.

Digital Signage In The Lounge/Bar

A digital overhead screen at the back of the bar can show menus and special offers that you’re able to change at the touch of a button to suit different times of the day. For instance, you could be promoting mimosa for brunch, cocktails for early evening and premium whisky or brandy for after-dinner drinks.

Elsewhere in the lounge/bar, the emphasis can be on entertainment and information. If you have appropriate content management software, you can split the screen so you can also show entertainment content, such as live TV, alongside other information.

If your hotel is near an airport, for example, you could show up-to-date flight information. You could also display local taxi numbers, reducing the pressure on your staff to order taxis, or else show hotel details, such as spa availability or dining room closing times. Screens can also show drink and/or food promotions to encourage take-up, or promote other services available within the hotel.

Digital Signage In The Lift Areas

Guests using the lifts are a captive audience and are therefore easy to engage, so why not provide content on smaller screens in the lift lobby or even inside of lifts. For example, remind them of times for check-in and check-out, promote your breakfasts, as well as paid-for in-hotel facilities, events and your current promotions.

You could also encourage guests to leave reviews on TripAdvisor. Remember that most lift wait times and journeys will be short, so messages should be simple.

Digital Signage Outside The Hotel

Digital signage for hotels doesn’t have to be restricted to inside the building. Displays outside the building will offer a premium, luxury impression before a guest has even entered.

Messages could include availability, latest deals and upcoming events. You could also show a video of services such as weddings or conferences, making it clear what you offer to passing motorists and/or pedestrians. 

Outdoor digital signage should be protected within enclosures, and use screens designed to withstand high and low temperatures — not all models are. Make sure you consult a specialist before you buy any hardware, especially if it is for outdoor use.

Choosing Hotel Digital Signage Solutions

It’s easy to overspend and underspend on the wrong things so it pays to get advice from an expert. A good consultancy will work with your budget and help you get the right equipment for your needs.

They will also be able to help with screen placement. They will identify where your guests will see screens most clearly, whilst them also being out of the way enough to reduce the risk of them getting damaged – any warranty you get with your hardware won’t cover accidental damage.

Budgeting For Your Hotel’s Digital Signage

When considering how much you have to spend on digital signage, don’t forget to factor in the ongoing costs for content creation and software. These will be critical to your success and aren’t something to be skimped on.

Impressive-looking content is key to getting your messages over through your hotel’s digital signage. Furthermore, if your on-screen information looks cheaply made or underwhelming, it will devalue your whole hotel offering – especially if it’s the first thing that a new customer sees when they arrive. 

The software might seem like an optional extra, but it gives you the ability to do smarter things with your screens. For example, it can allow you to split your on-screen displays so you can show more than one message at once. It will also enable you to show different messages at different times of the day — just when they’re most likely to resonate and deliver results.

Get in touch with us to find out more about how digital signage for hotels can help you inform, entertain and reassure your guests — without breaking the bank.