Hotel sends a private link
Staff records the guest visit and expected arrival time, then shares a time-limited invitation. No placeholder room is needed.
A thoughtful extra for the guest journey
Let guests plan hotel requests before they arrive.
A long journey is easier when guests can save a dining order or request extra towels before check-in. Your team reviews those selections, assigns a real room and activates the work when ready.
Feature preview · Activation integration in validationGuest requestsPre-arrival
Extra pillows
2 pillows · Guest note saved
Saved2 pillows · Guest note saved
In-room dining
Selections for arrival
SavedSelections for arrival
✓ Requests are saved for arrival. Preparation begins only after the hotel activates them.
How it works
Plan now. Activate when the room is ready.
Pre-arrival requests are intentionally separate from normal hotel service operations until a staff member assigns a room and approves activation.
Guest selects requests
The same browser-based guest menu supports food and service selections, arrival changes, edits and cancellations.
Staff assigns the real room
Staff reviews availability, prices and saved selections before releasing eligible requests into normal kitchen and service workflows.
The guest benefit
A little less to organize at check-in.
Guests can note what they need before reaching the property, without downloading a new app or knowing their room number. Their invitation displays a clear Pre-arrival status until the hotel activates the requests.
After activation, the same authorized guest session is designed to show the assigned room and normal request progress.
What guests can do before arrival
- Browse available food and hotel services
- Save requests with quantities, options and notes
- Update estimated arrival time
- Edit or cancel requests before activation
- See that saved requests are not yet accepted or preparing
The hotel benefit
Know what is coming—without starting work early.
The Pre-arrival panel helps staff review upcoming guests, changes and arrival timings. Team members choose an eligible room and explicitly activate approved requests. Overdue arrival times alone never trigger fulfillment.
Important distinction: Before activation, saved selections do not enter the kitchen, trigger Autopilot or staff assignments, deduct operational stock, or create room charges.
One workflow after activation
- Food orders continue through the hotel's normal kitchen process
- Service requests enter the existing staff workflow
- Normal Autopilot and billing rules apply after activation
- The original submission time remains in request history
Answers at a glance
Frequently asked questions
Can guests request food before receiving a room number?
In the pre-arrival workflow, yes. A private invitation ties selections to a guest visit; no dummy or temporary room is required.
Does the kitchen start preparing food immediately?
No. Pre-arrival requests remain saved and inactive until authorized hotel staff assign an eligible room and activate them.
Can guests change their arrival time or cancel a request?
Yes, while their invitation is valid and their requests are still parked. After activation, the hotel's normal order rules apply.
What happens if the guest arrives late?
The hotel can highlight late arrivals, but time alone never releases a request. Staff decide when to activate it.
For a step-by-step planning example, read how hotels can organize guest requests before check-in.
Thoughtful before arrival. Connected after check-in.
Pre-arrival requests are one additional guest-experience capability within Digital Room Service—not a separate hotel operations platform.
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