Walk-in guest

Walk-ins are sold at the current rate, usually without advance-booking discounts. For hotels near motorways, stations and airports they can be a meaningful share of sales. On nights close to full occupancy, the front desk may upsell to a higher room type or refer the guest to a partner hotel.

How it works in practice

Example: at 9 pm a driver without a booking walks into a hotel off the M6. Reception checks availability, quotes the rate, takes the guest’s details and payment up front, and issues a key card. In front desk slang, to “walk” a guest means something else: moving a guest with a booking to another hotel when the house is overbooked.

How technology helps

A walk-in guest can check in on the Digital Pod once availability is confirmed, and gets hotel information in the guest app by scanning a QR code.