Building Online Booking Software and Keyless Technology for Serviced Apartments
- 72+
- Weekly self check-ins via mobile app
- 580+
- Active users on the new website within 2 months of rollout
- 7x
- Growth in self check-ins after app launch
Guest App Development for Hospitality| RaftLabs
Guest app development that moves check-in from the desk to the phone.
RaftLabs is an AI-first tech studio that builds custom guest experience apps for hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, and hospitality brands. One team takes your guest app from idea to launch. Features include digital check-in, service requests, in-app upselling, guest messaging, and loyalty programs integrated with your PMS. Our builds move check-in, service requests, and upsells onto the guest's own phone, cutting front desk workload and lobby wait times. Delivered in 12 to 16 weeks at a fixed cost with full IP ownership. Clients include City Break Apartments (Ireland).
Cut front desk workload with self-service check-in, requests, and messaging.
Lift guest satisfaction with personalized, in-app experiences.
Reduce check-in queues with contactless web and mobile solutions.
Recent outcomes
Guest App · Serviced Apartments (Ireland)
7x check-in growth
Built a booking platform with mobile check-in and keyless entry for City Break Apartments. 7x growth in self check-ins within 3 months.
Community App · Events Platform
50K users in 6 months
Shipped EventRaft, a community event management app, to the App Store in 14 weeks. Reached 50,000 users in 6 months.
4.9
on ClutchThe problem
Sound familiar?
Front desk queue at 2pm on check-in day because guests still have to fill out paper registration cards and wait for a key to be cut manually?
Guests checking out without leaving a review because there is no touchpoint between service delivery and the feedback request?
Short answer
RaftLabs builds custom guest experience apps for hotels and serviced apartments in the US, UK, and Ireland. Features include digital check-in, in-app upselling, and PMS integration. Delivered in 12 to 16 weeks at a fixed price with full IP ownership.
Key takeaways
- Custom guest experience apps cut front desk workload through self-service check-in, requests, and messaging.
- Contactless web and mobile check-in reduces lobby queues and front-desk wait times.
- Personalized in-app experiences lift guest satisfaction and repeat bookings.
- In-app upsell engines and loyalty integrations open an ancillary revenue channel.
- Builds include PMS integration with platforms such as RMS Cloud, Cloudbeds, Mews, and Opera.
- Delivered in 12 to 16 weeks at a fixed price with full IP ownership transferred to the client.
Trusted by
The front desk queue that check-in day keeps rebuilding.
It is 2pm on a full check-in day. Guests are lined up at the desk filling out paper registration cards while a staff member cuts room keys by hand, one at a time. Every arrival is a repeat of the last: same form, same wait, same manual key.
Now the guest completes registration and payment before they land. Their room key drops onto their phone, they walk past the desk, and the lock opens over Bluetooth. The desk handles the arrivals that genuinely need a person, not all of them.
The queue was never the guests. It was the paperwork nobody had moved to the phone yet.
Generic off-the-shelf tools give every competitor the same guest app. A custom build gives you a digital concierge shaped to your brand and your workflows: mobile check-in, keyless entry, room service, housekeeping requests, and feedback, all from the guest's own phone or browser.
According to McKinsey's hospitality research, 80% of travelers want personalization, yet only about 33% of hotel operators feel capable of delivering it. A purpose-built guest app closes that gap by connecting your PMS data to every guest touchpoint: check-in, room controls, upsells, and feedback, without duct-taping together a stack of third-party tools. Modern guest experience systems integrate directly with your Property Management System (PMS), so a guest app moves check-in, upsells, and feedback onto the guest's own phone instead of the front desk, cutting workload and opening an in-app ordering and upsell channel.
We are an RMS Cloud certified integration partner, and we also build on Cloudbeds, Mews, Opera, Protel, and Apaleo. If your PMS is something else, ask, we have integrated with more than a dozen platforms. Behind that sits 100+ products shipped since 2015 for clients including Vodafone, T-Mobile, Aldi, Nike, Cisco, and Lockheed Martin. One team scopes your guest app, builds it, and hands it over, with GDPR and PCI DSS requirements designed in from week one, not retrofitted before launch. For City Break Apartments in Ireland we built a booking platform with mobile check-in and keyless entry that grew self check-ins 7x within three months.
A guest app pays off when the front desk is already the bottleneck.
Everything on the left should already be true for your property. Even one thing on the right, and a configured off-the-shelf tool is the smarter first spend.
A fit
01
A property or portfolio with enough guest volume that front desk queues and manual check-in cost real hours every week.
02
A PMS already in place (RMS Cloud, Cloudbeds, Mews, Opera, or similar) that the app needs to sync with in real time.
03
Budget for a fixed-scope build, and a decision-maker who can define what a great guest experience looks like.
Not a fit
- A single small property where a generic off-the-shelf app already covers the basics.
- No PMS or booking system in place to integrate against yet.
- Shopping for the cheapest hourly team, not a fixed-scope partner.
What we build
What our guest app development service covers
- 01Custom guest mobile appsWe design and build iOS, Android, and web apps matched to your brand identity and operational workflows, delivering intuitive experiences guests use across every device, with smooth PMS integration for real-time data sync.
- 02Web-based guest portalsNot every guest wants to download an app. We build responsive web applications that deliver full guest-experience functionality through any browser, removing download friction with instant access via QR code or link.
- 03Contactless check-in and check-outReduce lobby congestion and wait times with web and mobile check-in and check-out. Guests complete arrival and departure from their own devices, receiving digital room keys and instant checkout confirmations, with mobile key integration into smart lock systems.
- 04Upsell and ancillary servicesTurn your guest app into a revenue generator. Showcase room upgrades, spa packages, dining, and local tours directly in the app with reliable booking and payment processing.
- 05Guest feedback and surveysCapture feedback in real time while guests are still on property, enabling immediate service recovery, and run post-stay surveys that surface satisfaction drivers and improvement areas.
- 06Loyalty program integrationConnect your guest experience system to your loyalty program to deliver personalized perks, track points, and encourage repeat bookings through app-only benefits.
- 07In-app service requests and conciergeMove concierge services to a 24/7 digital experience accessible from any device. Guests request housekeeping, order room service, book spa appointments, and message staff directly instead of picking up the phone.
- 08PMS and hotel tech stack integrationDirect integration with leading PMS platforms and hotel technology (Opera, Protel, Mews, RMS Cloud), creating a unified ecosystem that removes data silos and manual processes across channel managers, booking engines, payment gateways, and smart room controls.
- 09AI personalization and analyticsUse AI and analytics to deliver tailored experiences, optimize operations, and increase revenue. By analyzing guest preferences, behaviors, and booking patterns, the app suggests relevant services and promotions while giving your team actionable insights.
Key features of guest experience apps
The value of a guest app shows up across the whole journey, from the moment a guest books to the review they leave after checkout.
Pre-arrival experience
Digital check-in: Complete registration, upload ID documents, and add payment methods before arrival. Guests save time and you collect necessary information in advance.
Reservation management: View, modify, or cancel reservations directly in the app. Receive booking confirmations and pre-arrival communications in one convenient location.
Personalized pre-arrival offers: Showcase room upgrades, early check-in options, and special packages before guests arrive, increasing ancillary revenue.
During-stay experience
Mobile key access: Replace plastic key cards with smartphone-based entry using Bluetooth or NFC technology integrated with smart lock systems.
Room controls: Adjust temperature, lighting, curtains, and entertainment systems from guest devices, creating personalized comfort environments.
Service requests: One-tap requests for housekeeping, maintenance, extra amenities, or concierge services with real-time tracking.
In-room dining and restaurant reservations: Browse menus, place food orders, and book restaurant tables without calling the front desk.
Guest communication hub
Two-way messaging: Direct communication between guests and staff for quick questions, special requests, or service issues.
Automated messages: Pre-programmed messages for welcome notes, check-in reminders, activity suggestions, and checkout instructions.
Multilingual support: Communicate with international guests in their preferred language, removing language barriers.
AI chatbot support: Instant, 24/7 responses to common guest queries with direct escalation to staff when needed.
Post-stay experience
Express checkout: Review and approve charges, receive digital receipts, and skip the front desk for an instant departure.
Feedback collection: Gather real-time satisfaction data while experiences are fresh, enabling service recovery and improvement identification.
Stay history and preferences: Store guest preferences for future visits, personalizing the experience for returning guests.
Loyalty program management: Show points earned, display tier benefits, and promote exclusive member offers to encourage repeat bookings.
Top benefits of guest apps in hospitality
- 01
Stronger guest experience
Guest apps create consistent, personalized experiences that modern travelers expect. From pre-arrival communication to post-stay follow-ups, every touchpoint becomes an opportunity to exceed expectations and drive positive reviews and repeat bookings.
- 02
Competitive differentiation
Stand out in a crowded market with modern technology that signals your commitment to guest satisfaction. Properties with guest apps are perceived as more premium and guest-focused.
- 03
Stronger guest loyalty
Create connections through personalized experiences that keep guests coming back. Integrated loyalty programs reward repeat visits and turn satisfied guests into brand advocates.
- 04
Higher revenue through upselling
Turn your guest app into a revenue generator. Strategic placement of upgrades, add-ons, and experiences drives ancillary revenue without additional sales effort.
- 05
Contactless and safe operations
Meet evolving guest expectations for minimal physical contact while maintaining service excellence. Contactless solutions provide peace of mind and operational flexibility.
- 06
Scalability across properties
Whether you operate one property or manage a portfolio, guest experience management systems grow with you while maintaining brand consistency and operational standards.
Who we build for: hospitality sectors
- 01
Hotels
We build hotel guest experience apps for every hotel segment, whether luxury hotels offering personalized butler services and VIP treatments, boutique hotels wanting to highlight their unique story, or budget hotels looking for efficient digital solutions that modern travelers expect.
- 02
Vacation rentals and short-term properties
From Airbnb-style stays with self-check-in and digital guidebooks to serviced apartments designed for business travelers and long-term guests, we help property owners deliver consistent, professional guest experiences with maintenance requests, notifications, and local recommendations.
- 03
Hostels and guesthouses
We create community-driven guest apps that encourage social interactions, promote group activities, and simplify shared-space management while keeping operations efficient and budget-friendly.
- 04
Resorts
We support a wide range of resort experiences, including beach resorts with cabana and water activity bookings, mountain resorts offering ski passes and trail updates, spa resorts with wellness schedules and treatment bookings, and all-inclusive resorts managing multi-venue dining, activities, and on-property experiences.
- 05
Theme parks and entertainment venues
Deliver connected, high-energy guest experiences with mobile tools for ride wait times, interactive maps, show schedules, ticket upgrades, food pre-orders, and real-time crowd navigation, helping guests enjoy more and wait less.
- 06
Camping, glamping, and RV parks
Support outdoor properties with features like site selection, amenity reservations, activity bookings, offline maps, and emergency info, suited for remote or low-connectivity locations.
- 07
Motels
Bring modern convenience to motel stays with express check-in, local dining suggestions, and easy communication between guests and staff.
- 08
Bed and breakfasts (B&Bs)
Lift the intimate charm of B&Bs with tools for breakfast preferences, personalized recommendations, and direct host communication.
Technology stack for guest app development
We are not tied to one framework. We pick the stack that fits your performance, platform, and integration needs, then document every choice so any competent engineering team can maintain it. The technologies we reach for most often:
| Layer | Technologies we use | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Web frontend | Next.js, React | Guest web portals, admin dashboards, and booking flows |
| Mobile | Swift, Kotlin, Flutter | Native iOS and Android guest apps with device features |
| Backend | Node.js | Guest app logic, PMS integration, and real-time APIs |
| Databases | PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Amazon RDS | Reservations, guest profiles, and flexible content data |
| Cloud | AWS, Amazon EC2 | Production-grade hosting, scaling, and monitoring |
We build a minimum viable product with the core features that deliver immediate value first, get your app into guests' hands quickly, then refine from real guest feedback with regular releases that keep the experience fresh.
Ready to scope your guest app project?
Walk us through your property, your PMS, and what the front desk can't keep up with. We'll scope the build and give you a fixed cost and timeline.
How it works
From scope to shipped
Every guest app project follows the same four phases. Scope is locked and price is fixed before development starts.
- Week 101
Discovery and scope
We map your property, brand, guest journey, and operational workflows. You leave week 1 with a written scope document and a fixed-price quote. No development starts without your sign-off.
- Weeks 2-302
Design and architecture
Wireframes before production code. We prototype key flows such as check-in, room service, and service requests, then test with real users. Design decisions made here cost ten times less than the same decisions made in week 8.
- Weeks 4-1203
Build, integrate, and QA
Working software at a staging URL by the end of sprint one. PMS integration and payment processing are wired up in the first two sprints. QA runs in parallel with every sprint, not as a phase at the end.
- Weeks 12+04
Launch and post-launch support
Production deployment with monitoring activated on launch day. 8 weeks of post-launch support included in every project. App store submission handled by our team.
What clients say
What our clients say about us
Three-year average engagement. Founders and operators describing the work in their own words. No marketing varnish.
Paula Castro
IrelandReservations Officer, City Break Apartments
Working with RaftLabs has been amazing. The team is super responsive and quick to address our needs. They built a booking platform that's been a game changer for our team and our guests.
Guest app projects at RaftLabs share one operating principle: the team that scopes the work ships it. The people who assess your property and guest journey in week 1 are the people who build and integrate the app, so nothing gets lost in a handoff. We scope the work, calculate the cost, and lock it in writing before any development starts. A scope change is a priced change request, agreed or dropped, never a surprise on the final invoice. Compliance carries the same discipline: we have shipped GDPR-compliant products for European markets including Ireland and the UK, and PCI-compliant payment flows for hospitality clients in the US and Australia.
What guest app development costs
We price by project, not by the hour. After a scoping session you get a fixed quote with a defined scope, timeline, and price. Where you land depends on scope, not negotiation:
- Basic integration, $10,000-$20,000
- Connect a single third-party system (channel manager, payment gateway, or CRM) to your guest app through secure API synchronization, with data mapping and sandbox testing, in 2 to 4 weeks.
- Guest experience app, $20,000-$40,000
- A custom iOS, Android, or web app with mobile check-in, digital room key over Bluetooth locks, service requests, upsells, real-time booking sync, and custom design, in 8 to 12 weeks.
- Full-stack solution, custom quote
- A production-ready platform with channel manager integration, loyalty program, custom reporting dashboard, payment processing (RMS Pay, Stripe, Square), and optional multi-property support, in 12 to 16+ weeks.
What it costs
Fixed scope. Starting at $10,000. Yours to keep.
A guest app scoped to your property and your PMS, with mobile check-in, service requests, upsells, and the integrations it needs to run reliably.
Starts at $10,000
12 to 16 weeks to launch, with full IP ownership transferred to you. Many properties start with check-in and service requests, then add upsells once guests are using it.
Start with the core guest journey, prove it with real guests, then add PMS integrations and upsells as the app earns its place. It's yours outright, not licensed back to you.
No hourly billing
Once we scope your app, that price is locked in writing, so there's no hourly billing and no scope-creep invoices. A scope change is a priced change request, agreed before work begins.
Ownership
You own the code and data outright, with full IP ownership transferred at handover, plus 8 weeks of post-launch support included in every project.
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Read moreFAQs
A standard guest experience app takes 12 to 16 weeks from project kickoff to app store launch. This includes discovery, design, development, PMS integration, testing, and deployment. More complex apps with IoT integration or an AI concierge may take 20 to 24 weeks.
Timeline depends on the number of features and integrations, PMS platform complexity, custom design requirements, smart device integration needs, and your team's approval process.
Both options are available. Native iOS and Android apps give the best performance, access to device features like camera and push notifications, offline functionality, and app store presence. Responsive web apps require no download, work on any browser and device, have lower adoption friction, and cost less to build and maintain.
Many properties choose a hybrid approach: native apps for frequent guests and loyalty members, and responsive web access for first-time or short-stay guests.
We build custom integrations tailored to your PMS platform. Most modern systems offer RESTful APIs that enable real-time data exchange for reservations, room status, guest profiles, and billing. For instant updates when reservation status changes, we configure webhooks that push data from your PMS to the guest app. For legacy systems without modern APIs, we can establish secure direct database connections. Some properties benefit from a middleware layer that standardizes data from multiple systems.
Yes. Mobile key functionality uses Bluetooth Low Energy or NFC technology to communicate with smart door locks. The app authenticates with the lock system when a guest's device is near their room door and grants access. This requires smart lock hardware such as Salto, Assa Abloy, or Dormakaba, a smartphone with Bluetooth or NFC, and proper encryption protocols. Guests cannot lose their digital key, there is no plastic card waste, and keys can be issued or revoked remotely.
We always recommend maintaining traditional service options alongside digital ones. Traditional plastic key cards at the front desk, phone-based service requests, in-person concierge assistance, and printed property information all remain available. The best guest apps are optional conveniences, not mandatory requirements. We design for inclusive experiences that accommodate all guest preferences and technical comfort levels.
Yes. We build production-ready guest experience management systems that support multi-property portfolios with centralized dashboards, property-specific branding, cross-property loyalty programs, and consolidated reporting. Multi-brand operations get distinct app experiences per brand on shared backend infrastructure. Franchise operators get white-label products with centralized brand standards and individual property admin controls.
Work with us
Tell us what you need. We'll tell you what it would take.
We scope Guest App Development for Hospitality in 30 minutes. You walk away with a clear cost, timeline, and approach. No commitment required.
- Scope and cost agreed before work starts. No surprises. No obligation.
- Working prototype within 3 weeks of kickoff.
- Pay by milestone. You see progress before each invoice.
- 60-day post-launch warranty. Bug fixes, UI tweaks, and deployment support. No retainer.
- All conversations are NDA-protected.