Guest Guidebook

Create a digital guidebook for your guests with property information, local recommendations, amenities, and house rules. Guests access the guidebook through a link in your messages—no app download required.

Overview

Requirements

Before setting up, ensure your HelloShift subscription includes:

• Contactless Checkin plan

Accessing Guidebook Management

1. Go to Guest > Guidebook

2. View all guidebook pages with their titles, URLs, and publish status

3. Use the toolbar to create pages, preview as a guest, or bulk publish/unpublish

Creating a Guidebook Page

Step 1: Click New Guidebook Page

1. Go to Guest > Guidebook

2. Click New Guidebook Page

Step 2: Enter Page Details

Step 3: Add Content

Use the rich text editor to add:

• Formatted text (headings, bold, lists)

• Images

• Links

• Embedded content

Step 4: Save the Page

Click Create Page to save. You will be redirected to the edit page where you can:

• See a live preview of how the page looks to guests

• Upload a cover image

• Set the URL slug

• Publish the page when ready

Note: New pages are created as drafts. Publish them to make them visible to guests.

Managing Pages

Viewing Pages

The guidebook management page shows:

Publishing Pages

You can publish pages individually or in bulk:

• Individual: Click the Publish/Unpublish button next to each page in the list

• Bulk: Use the Publish All or Unpublish All buttons in the toolbar to change all pages at once

Reordering Pages

1. Grab the drag handle (move icon) on the left

2. Drag the page to a new position

3. Drop to save the new order

Pages appear in this order on the guest guidebook.

Editing a Page

1. Click the page title to view it

2. Click Edit Page

3. The edit page shows your form on the left and a live preview on the right

4. As you type, the preview updates in real-time — no need to save first

5. Click Save Page when done

The edit page also includes:

Deleting a Page

1. Open the page (click the title) or go to the edit page

2. Click the Delete button

3. Confirm deletion

Note: Deleted pages cannot be recovered.

Page Cover Images

Each page can have a cover image that appears at the top of the page in the guest guidebook.

1. Go to the edit page for any guidebook page

2. Scroll below the form to the Page Image section

3. Click Upload Image to select a file

4. The image uploads and saves automatically

Image Guidelines:

• Recommended width: 1024px

• The image is displayed as a cover (cropped to fit, 200px height)

• Use landscape orientation for best results

• To remove an image, click Remove Image

Guidebook Display Settings

Configure what appears on the guidebook homepage.

Accessing Display Settings

1. Go to Admin > Settings > Checkin

2. Click the Guidebook tab

Display Options

Click Update Guidebook Settings to save.

Default Guidebook Pages

HelloShift creates default page templates to help you get started:

Customize these templates with your property's specific information.

Guest Experience

Accessing the Guidebook

Guests access the guidebook through:

1. Message Link: {{guidebook_link}} variable in snippets

2. Direct URL: https://app.helloshift.com/sites/{site}/guests/guidebook

3. Post-Booking Message: Include link in booking confirmation

Guidebook Homepage

When guests open the guidebook, they see:

1. Welcome Message: Customizable welcome heading and text

2. Check-in Button: If they have a pending check-in

3. Page Navigation: List of all published pages with cover images

4. Shop Link: If shopping is enabled

5. Tip Button: If tipping is enabled

6. Chat Widget: If chat is enabled

Viewing Pages

• Click any page title to view content

• Use the kebab menu (three dots) to navigate between pages

• Return to homepage using the Home breadcrumb link

Guest Actions

Best Practices

Page Organization

1. Essential Info First: WiFi, check-in/out times, house rules

2. Group Related Content: Local restaurants in one page, activities in another

3. Keep It Scannable: Use headings, lists, and short paragraphs

4. Update Seasonally: Refresh local recommendations

Recommended Pages

Content Tips

• Keep titles short and descriptive

• Use images to show locations or amenities

• Include phone numbers and addresses

• Update hours for seasonal businesses

• Add maps or directions where helpful

Communication

Include guidebook links in:

• Post-booking confirmation

• Pre-arrival messages

• In-stay messages

• Room information cards

Snippet Example:

Welcome to [Hotel Name]! View our digital guidebook for WiFi, amenities, and local recommendations: {{guidebook_link}}

Brand Customization

Customize the visual appearance of your guidebook and check-in pages to match your property's branding.

Accessing Brand Settings

1. Go to Admin > Settings > Checkin

2. Click the Brand tab

Color Settings

Color Format: Use hex codes (e.g., #42313d) or click the color picker.

Tips for Color Selection:

• Choose primary color that matches your logo

• Ensure sufficient contrast for readability

• Test on mobile devices (colors may appear differently)

Logo and Images

Image Requirements:

• Formats: PNG, JPG, or GIF

• Logo: Transparent background recommended (PNG)

• Splash: Landscape orientation works best

• File size: Under 2MB for faster loading

Saving Changes

1. Configure all desired settings

2. Click Update Brand Settings

3. Changes apply immediately to guest-facing pages

Preview Your Branding

After saving, preview your guidebook to verify:

1. Click Preview as Guest from the guidebook index page, or open your guidebook URL in a new browser tab

2. Check colors on buttons and links

3. Verify logo displays correctly

4. Confirm splash image fits properly on mobile

URL Structure

Page URLs

Each page has a unique URL based on its slug:

https://app.helloshift.com/sites/{site}/guests/guidebook/{slug}

Examples:

• WiFi: /guests/guidebook/wifi-instruction

• Check-in: /guests/guidebook/check-in

• Local Activities: /guests/guidebook/local-activities

Guest-Specific URLs

Include guest code for personalized access:

https://app.helloshift.com/sites/{site}/guests/guidebook?guest_code={code}&stay_id={stay}

The {{guidebook_link}} variable automatically includes guest context.

Troubleshooting

Page not appearing for guests

Possible Causes:

• Page is in draft (not published)

• Wrong slug in URL

• Page was deleted

Solutions:

• Verify page is published (use Publish All to publish everything at once)

• Check URL matches page slug

• Recreate page if deleted

Images not displaying

Possible Causes:

• Image upload failed

• Image URL is broken

• Image is too large

Solutions:

• Re-upload the image from the edit page

• Use smaller image file

• Use hosted image URL

Chat widget not showing

Possible Causes:

• Chat widget disabled in settings

• Checkin plan not active

Solutions:

• Enable in Admin > Settings > Checkin > Guidebook

• Verify Contactless Checkin plan is active

Shop/Tip buttons not showing

Possible Causes:

• Stripe not connected

• Feature disabled in settings

Solutions:

• Connect Stripe account

• Enable in Guidebook display settings

Related Articles

• Contactless Check-in Setup - Configure check-in settings

• Digital Tipping - Set up guest tipping

• Shopping Feature - Configure guest shop

• Snippets & Templates - Use {{guidebook_link}} variable