Self check-in: why you should encourage it

Since the Covid pandemic, self check-in has become more and more popular! It was already on the rise, but now it is in high demand! Here's why.

What does it involve?

You have two options for offering your guests a self check-in:

• Leave the keys in asecure key box
• Fit akeypad entry systemon the door of your property

Of course, remember to change the code between each booking. You can use our digital welcome book to do this: it takes just a few clicks!

What are the benefits of a self check-in?

The benefits are many, both for you and for your guests.

For you:

• No moretravellingto the property to greet your guests
• No more waiting around when they arerunning late
• No moresmall talkwith no idea when to bring it to an end

For them:

• Greater flexibilityduring their holiday
• One less thing to stress about(delays, etc.)
• A stronger sense oftrust(you are handing over the keys to your home)

And if you really do want to meet your guests, there is nothing stopping you from popping in to see them (having asked them first) a few hours or a few days later. So, ready to give it a go with your next guests? Do tell us about your experience in the comments! And if you would still rather welcome your guests in person, here is an article you should enjoy!

Two methods allow you to offer autonomous arrival, each with its own advantages and considerations.

Method	Setup	Main advantage	Key consideration
Secured key box	On an existing door, no lock modification needed	Keeps your physical access unchanged	Physical key must be updated between each booking
Digital code at entry	Installed on the existing lock	Eliminates physical key circulation	Code must change with each booking
Code management	Via StyQR digital welcome book	Updated in just a few clicks	New code displayed immediately for next guests

Frequently asked questions

Key safe or keypad: which one should I choose? Both do the job. A keypad means no physical key changes hands, while a secure key safe fits onto a door that is already there, with no change to the lock. Pick the one you will actually keep up to date between bookings, that is the only criterion that matters.

Do I really need to change the code between stays? Yes, every single time. A code that stays the same from one booking to the next eventually gets around, in a travel notebook, a group chat or an old message. From your digital welcome book, updating it takes a few clicks and the new code appears for the next guests.

Does self check-in mean never meeting your guests? No. Nothing stops you from dropping by a few hours or a few days later, as long as you ask them first whether it suits them. The difference is that the meeting happens when everyone is actually available, and not on the doorstep after a delayed train.

What if my guests arrive late? That is exactly where self check-in earns its keep. You no longer wait in the car, and they no longer spend the last hour of the drive apologising by text. They let themselves in when it suits them, and you get your evening back.

Won't guests feel poorly welcomed? The effect tends to run the other way. Handing over the code or the key to your home reads as a mark of trust, and plenty of guests would rather drop their bags without a welcoming committee. What counts is the care you put into the arrival information, not your presence on the doorstep.

How do I get the code to my guests? Through your digital welcome book, where the arrival details sit alongside everything else about the stay. You change the code between two bookings in a few clicks, and every guest always sees the right one.