On this page
Key takeaways
- Wi-Fi, the guest directory and room service are the codes guests use most.
- A digital guest directory replaces the dog-eared folder and is updated in minutes.
- Ask for reviews at checkout with a code that opens the review form directly.
- Dynamic codes let you update menus, prices and offers without reprinting room cards.
7 ways hotels use QR codes
1. Wi-Fi
The question every guest asks. A WiFi QR code on the key card holder, the desk and the bedside table joins the guest network in one scan, without spelling out a password.
2. Guest directory
Breakfast times, checkout, gym and pool hours, housekeeping, the TV guide and emergency information: a mobile page or PDF instead of a printed folder. You can update it the same day the spa changes its hours.
3. Room service and restaurant menus
A menu QR code shows today’s dishes and prices with photos and allergens, and links ordering if you have it.
4. WhatsApp concierge
A WhatsApp QR code lets guests ask for towels, a taxi or a late checkout with a message, which is often easier than calling reception, especially for international guests.
5. Check-in and registration
Send a form before arrival, or put one at reception, so guests fill in their details on their own phone.
6. Local guide and directions
Your recommended restaurants, sights and transport on one page, plus a Google Maps QR code for the entrance and parking in booking emails.
7. Reviews
A Google review QR code at checkout. More on this below.
What to put in the room
| Code | Where in the room | One per room or per hotel? |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Bedside table, desk | Per hotel (per room if networks differ) |
| Guest directory | Desk, back of the door | Per hotel |
| Room service menu | Desk, bedside | Per hotel |
| Requests or maintenance | Desk or bathroom | Per room, so staff know the room |
| Review | Key card holder, checkout | Per hotel |
One card, several codes
More reviews at checkout
Most happy guests never leave a review because nobody asks at the right moment. Ask at checkout, when the stay is fresh: a code at reception (“Enjoyed your stay? It takes 30 seconds”), on the key card holder, and in the post-stay email. Link the review form directly so guests don’t have to search for the hotel.
Measuring what guests use
Dynamic codes show how often each one is scanned and when. If the room service menu is scanned at 10 pm but orders are low, the menu may need work; if the directory is rarely opened, move it somewhere more visible.
Mistakes to avoid
- Sharing the staff network. Use a separate guest Wi-Fi network.
- Out-of-date directories. Wrong breakfast times are worse than no directory. Make someone own it.
- Codes in dark corners. Phones struggle in dim room lighting; put codes near a lamp or the desk.
- Only digital. Keep essential information, such as emergency exits, printed in the room.
Watch for tampering
A setup plan
- 1Create a Wi-Fi code for the guest network and a dynamic code for the guest directory.
- 2Add room service, WhatsApp and review codes.
- 3Design one room card and one reception sign, each with clear labels.
- 4Test every code in a real room, in the evening light.
- 5Review scans monthly and update the directory when anything changes.
Start with a free QR-10 account; Pro adds unlimited dynamic codes for larger properties.