Holiday parks in Australia and around the world are ditching the long lines and paperwork shuffle for something smarter—seamless, stress-free check-ins. But this isn’t about replacing warm welcomes with cold technology. It’s about giving guests the freedom to arrive on their terms while your team spends less time on admin and more time taking care of their guests.
Contactless check-in isn’t just a tech upgrade; it’s a game-changer. Say goodbye to the clipboard chaos and hello to a smoother arrival. By automating the repetitive stuff, your team gets to focus on what really matters: making guests feel at home, not stuck in a queue. With the right tools, check-in becomes less of a hurdle and more of a warm welcome.
The modern check-in experience
From digital concierges to self-service airports, guests are readily embracing the benefits of contactless technology, and they expect the same experience at holiday parks. Digital solutions and contactless tech make it easier to scale operations and reduce manual workloads, allowing you to deliver consistently smooth check-ins, no matter the season.
Adopting digital-first tools and evolving your check-in experience not only delights your guests but adds a clear point of difference between your park and those who are still frustrated by manual processes.
Freeing up the front desk
Almost every front office task can now be automated, done in seconds, and with incredible accuracy. Reservation requirements and payment requests can be triggered via email or SMS, days before guests set foot in your park. Interactive maps personalize the online booking experience, pre-arrival registration with tools like the RMS Guest Portal saves time for both guests and staff, while digital keys eliminate the need for physical handoffs. Below are the top four features that create a better arrival experience for your guests.
Four features for frictionless check-ins
1. Collect bookings online from an interactive map of your property
Make the booking journey easy for your guests from the very start with interactive maps. By embedding a map onto your booking engine, your guests can choose exactly the spot they want during the reservation process, whether that’s near the beach, away from other cabins, or in an accessible spot. This takes the stress of navigating a new property off your guests when they arrive, so they focus on enjoying their stay.
2. Integrated payments and pre-stay processing
With solutions like RMS Pay, you can secure payment before guests arrive, during their stay, after they've departed and when they return. With the ability to send payment links in advance and effortlessly take scheduled payments across their stay, contactless transactions reduce pressure on staff, improve accuracy and let your guests skip the front desk line.
3. Digital keys and pre-arrival messages
Cabin guests can skip the front desk entirely. With digital key integrations, they can access their cabin straight from their phone. PMS tech partners like Goki, Salto, and Assa Abloy offer digital key integrations, so all you have to do is create triggered emails or SMS messages that automatically provide your guests with mobile access to their door upon check-in. Not only is this convenient for guests, it’s also perfect for those after-hours arrivals too.
4. Automated vehicle entry with license plate recognition
Why wait at the gate? Boom gate technology integrated with your PMS allows vehicles to be automatically recognized on arrival. Streamline guest vehicle access and protect your property and guests by matching access codes to your guests’ registration, or by using tech partners with license plate reader technology. Easily collect vehicle details via the Guest Portal, set timing parameters so they can only enter during their stay, and automatically send a welcome message confirming check-in and directing them to their site. This improves security, cuts congestion, and ensures a smooth arrival—no lines, no delays.
Keeping the lines open, during their stay
Guests want reassurance and responsiveness—and the right combination of automation and contactless technology will only enhance the experience you already provide. Triggered SMS and email confirmations help set expectations before arrival, while two-way messaging allows staff to stay connected with guests in real time.
With your team able to quickly view guest details, site status and special requests from one system, you’re better equipped to respond quickly and personally. By combining tools like interactive maps, automated entry, digital keys and pre-arrival payments, you create a check-in experience that’s easier for your staff and far more enjoyable for your guests.
Tech meets touch: the perfect hospitality mix
No gadget can replace genuine and heartwarming hospitality, but the right tech can give it a boost. When the admin tasks run on autopilot, your team gets to do what they do best—greeting guests, fixing hiccups, and creating memorable moments that keep people coming back.
Less admin. More connection. A smoother stay, from start to finish.
