When you run a hotel, clear, accessible safety procedures are essential. However, traditional procedure sharing methods like binders of printed materials, in-room signage, and specialized TV channels can often go overlooked, quickly become outdated, and create unnecessary physical contact points.
Today’s hotels can improve the guest experience with a faster option for sharing critical information, one that’s contactless and easy to update. Using QR Codes provides a modern solution. With a quick scan, guests can instantly access safety protocols, FAQs, and even feedback forms right from their smartphones, with no hassle and no outdated content. Dynamic QR Codes let hoteliers update destination links in seconds, providing a user-friendly and trackable way to keep guests informed and satisfied. This article explores how.
Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.
Why common safety communication methods fall short in hotels
Timely communication is key to creating a safe, seamless guest experience, but traditional safety sharing methods often miss the mark. From printed materials to static signage, these approaches can’t keep up with the need for real-time updates and user-friendly access. Let’s explore why these methods no longer meet the expectations of today’s social media-attuned hotel guests—and what a better solution looks like.
Printed materials are hard to update and often ignored
In-room safety cards, hotel binders, and printed instructions on the backs of room service menus may seem like an easy solution, but they’re often overlooked by modern guests expecting a mobile-forward customer experience. These materials can also quickly become outdated, especially when health and safety protocols change frequently. Plus, they’re prone to wear and tear, creating more hassle for hospitality businesses trying to maintain a luxury look. The last thing your concierge wants is a tattered piece of worn cardboard acting as the final chapter in your otherwise seamless white-glove check-in process.
Wall signage lacks detail and limits accessibility
While signage is useful for quick reminders, it rarely offers the full picture. Space limitations mean specific safety instructions regarding individual guest service and specialized hotel amenities may be left out. Plus, static signs generally don’t support interactive features, contactless engagement with detailed webpage information, or multilingual options—all critical for supporting diverse hotel guests in an emergency.
Individual room signage is strictly regulated, and these regulations likely specify a few minimal details, like fire exit routing and total capacity. Keeping these signs in conformity means that other safety information your guests might find useful—like what items they can bring to the pool or workout areas—doesn’t make the cut.
Guests expect mobile-friendly information they can access anytime
Today’s travelers rely on their smartphones for nearly everything, from booking to check-in to accessing restaurant menus. They expect the same convenience when it comes to safety procedures.
Digital solutions give guests instant, contactless access to detailed, up-to-date information—wherever they are, whether they’re in their hotel room, at the front desk, or exploring local attractions. These solutions offer a user-friendly way to provide real-time updates and meet the expectations of the modern guest.
Why QR Codes are the best option for hotel guest safety communications
The advent of widespread smartphone use has led to a renaissance in smart hotel technology. QR Codes for hotel check-in and check-out are already widely popular. The following sections explain why you should leverage QR Codes far beyond the front desk.
QR Codes give guests instant, mobile access to safety details
QR Codes can link directly to a landing page with critical safety information like fire exit locations, emergency contacts, earthquake drill details, or severe weather protocols. Guests can then access this content from any smartphone, anywhere you post the QR Code—whether they’re in their hotel room, at the front desk, or lounging next to a rooftop infinity pool.
Using Bitly’s QR Code Generator, you can create user-friendly links to important safety information pages that guests can bookmark or save to their phones. With the appropriate information saved, they’ll be ready for anything, no matter where they are.
Even if they’re off-site when events occur, they’ll have real-time access to the right safety instructions (like assigned muster locations for different evacuated floors) should an emergency occur. Families spread out across your facility or local area will be able to immediately figure out where to meet up with their loved ones without additional direction, freeing your staff to focus on other time-sensitive tasks.
They reduce clutter and streamline in-room experiences
You can significantly reduce clutter and streamline in-room experiences by replacing stacks of printed materials, outdated binders, and worn-out signage with Dynamic QR Codes. Instead of physical safety cards, restaurant menus, room service directories, or hotel amenities guides scattered across surfaces, a simple contactless QR Code offers instant, user-friendly access to all this information via any guest’s smartphone.
This setup not only eliminates unnecessary paper waste but also supports your hotel’s health and safety initiatives by reducing physical contact. Using QR Codes aligns with modern guest expectations for convenient, mobile-first experiences. The result is cleaner, more thoughtfully designed hotel rooms that enhance the overall guest satisfaction and leave a lasting impression.
They support multilingual and location-specific content
QR Codes are incredibly versatile tools that can support multilingual and location-specific content to elevate the guest safety experience. You can easily tailor QR Codes for specific hotel rooms, amenities, or locations, delivering the right safety information to the right guest at the right time.
For example, by using several different QR Codes with distinct language frames, you can automatically direct guests to safety landing pages in their preferred language, whether it’s English, Spanish, French, or any other. You can even configure individual QR Codes to link to location-based safety content unique to a specific floor, building, or region of the hotel.
They enable real-time updates to procedures without reprinting
Dynamic QR Codes give hotels the flexibility to update critical information in real time, without the hassle or cost of reprinting materials. When safety procedures, health guidelines, or service offerings change—whether due to evolving pandemic protocols, seasonal adjustments, or special events—hotel staff can instantly update the URL behind any Dynamic QR Code. This ensures guests always receive the most current information anytime they scan with their smartphone or tablet.
There’s no need to replace printed signage, update paper instructions, or redistribute guest handouts. With real-time updates, hotels can keep emergency procedures and evacuation instructions accurate and up to date. This approach not only saves time and reduces waste but also improves guest satisfaction by offering reliable, contactless access to timely information.
How to use the Bitly Connections Platform to improve hotel safety for guests
You can do more than just display QR Codes—the Bitly Connections Platform helps hospitality businesses fully optimize guest safety communications. With tools like Bitly Links, Bitly Pages, and Bitly Analytics, you can create, organize, and track essential safety content in ways that are user-friendly, contactless, and tailored to the modern guest experience.
Use Bitly Links to create branded, trackable safety content
With Bitly Links, you can create short, branded URLs that build guest trust and provide a seamless mobile experience. These links make it easy for guests to access real-time safety details, whether they’re reading a welcome email after check-in or following up on an SMS from their concierge about hazardous local weather conditions. Bitly Links also let you track clicks by date, city/country location, or device use, giving you valuable insights into hotel operations and guest engagement.
Build centralized safety hubs with Bitly Pages
Bitly Pages make it easy to create mobile-optimized safety hubs where guests can find everything they need: Emergency numbers, evacuation maps, health and safety protocols, guest services info, and more. QR Codes can link directly to these centralized pages, providing a streamlined, contactless way to access critical details from any smartphone. No more scattered materials or incomplete signage. Just one clear, consistent, mobile-optimized experience.
Monitor engagement to identify communication gaps
With Bitly Analytics, you can track every scan of each QR Code. This data collected from contactless hotel experience short links helps pinpoint which safety procedures guests are actively viewing and which they overlook. By understanding engagement patterns across different hotel amenities, locations, and check-in experiences, you can fine-tune your messaging, close communication gaps, and keep your hospitality business aligned with the highest health and safety standards.
Give guests safer, smarter experiences with QR Codes
Outdated safety information distribution methods like printed materials and static signage can’t keep up with today’s hospitality industry’s demands. Guests expect instant, mobile-friendly access to reliable, real-time safety information. Using QR Codes is the smart, scalable solution, providing a seamless, contactless experience that improves both safety and guest satisfaction.
With the Bitly Connections Platform, you can generate branded Bitly Links, create centralized Bitly Pages, and track engagement with powerful Bitly Analytics—all in one place.
Ready to modernize your hotel’s safety communications? Sign up with Bitly today and start creating a safer, more streamlined guest experience.
