Is an app or a web app better for my hotel?
18 November 2025The digitalization of hospitality is now a reality, but one of the most frequently asked questions among hoteliers is: is it better to create an app or a web app for their guests?
The answer, in most cases, is clear: a web app is the simplest, most economical, and most effective solution for offering digital services to guests.
1. Guests want immediate access, without installing anything
The first obstacle with a traditional app is downloading it.
Those who travel and stay at a hotel for just a few days are unlikely to want to download a dedicated app, create an account, accept permissions, or accept updates. On the contrary, guests want immediate and seamless access to the property’s information, without barriers.
With a web app, however, all you need to do is scan a QR code or open a link: in just a few seconds, you can access all the services—restaurant menus, spa hours, reservations, useful information—directly from your browser, on any device.
No downloads, no complications.
2. An app installed for vacation use is perceived as “invasive.”
From the user’s perspective, installing an app not intended for daily use is unnatural: it takes up space on the phone, takes time, and is often forgotten or deleted immediately afterward.
This negatively impacts the perception of the hotel’s digital experience: what should be an added value risks becoming a nuisance.
A web app, on the other hand, leaves no trace: guests can use it throughout their stay and simply close it upon checkout, with no installation or residual data. It is discreet, fast, and sustainable—just as a digital service designed for tourism should be. If desired, guests can save it to their phone’s screen.
3. A web app is always up-to-date and maintenance-free for the hotel.
With native apps, every technical or content update requires time and expense: you have to modify the code, submit new versions to the stores, and wait for approval from Apple and Google.
A web app, on the other hand, exists entirely online: content is updated in real time, and each guest automatically sees the latest version.
For the hotelier, this means zero technical management: no versions to publish, no mandatory updates, no risk of incompatibility between devices.
Every change—a new menu, an offer, breakfast times—is immediately visible to everyone.
4. No intermediaries: full autonomy and reduced costs
Publishing an app on the Google and Apple stores involves not only complex procedures, but also recurring costs and management limitations. Both platforms impose rigid rules, review deadlines, and annual fees that make little sense for a hotel that doesn’t need to sell a service to the public but only offers ancillary services or information to its guests.
A web app completely eliminates these intermediaries: the hotel maintains full control of its digital channel, can update content independently, and save time and money.
Furthermore, distribution is instantaneous: a link or QR code in the room, in the lobby, or in the booking confirmation email is all it takes to make everything accessible.
5. The ideal solution for hotels just starting to digitalize
For a hotel just starting to digitalize, a web app is the perfect starting point: affordable to activate, easy to maintain, accessible on any device, and customizable in appearance.
It offers all the features needed to enhance the guest experience—from the service catalog to direct messaging—without the complexity of custom development.
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In short, choosing a web app means offering guests a simple, fast, and intuitive digital experience that requires no installation and focuses on ease of use.
For the hotel, however, it is an efficient and sustainable choice that eliminates intermediaries, reduces costs, and ensures consistently up-to-date content.
In the hospitality world, where speed and convenience matter most, a web app is more than just a technical choice—it’s a strategic choice to improve your guests’ experience and simplify the management of your hotel.