Hotel Digital Compendium: What to Include, Examples and How to Set One Up

By StayScan Editorial Team · Published 2026-10-31 · Last updated 2026-10-31

What a hotel digital compendium is, the 12 sections every guest compendium needs, how to share it by QR code, and how to set one up in an afternoon.

Why Hotels Are Replacing Printed Compendiums

Printed room folders are expensive to design and print, go out of date the moment a menu or opening time changes, and are often stained, missing pages or taken home. A digital compendium fixes all of these problems:

• Always up to date: change the breakfast hours once and every room shows the new time.
• Multilingual: international guests can read the compendium in their own language instead of English only.
• Hygienic: guests use their own phone instead of a shared folder.
• Revenue-friendly: spa treatments, room service, late check-out and tours can be promoted on the screen guests already look at.
• Measurable: you can see which sections guests open most and which questions still reach reception.

The 12 Sections Every Hotel Compendium Needs

1. Welcome note: a short message from the general manager or owner.
2. Wi-Fi: network name and password, or a Wi-Fi QR code guests scan to connect.
3. Arrival and departure: check-in and check-out times, late check-out options, luggage storage and key return.
4. Dining: restaurant and bar opening hours, breakfast times, dress code, and how to book a table.
5. Room service: the menu, hours and how to order.
6. Facilities: pool, gym, spa, parking, laundry and business centre, each with hours and rules.
7. In-room guide: air conditioning, TV, safe, minibar prices, kettle or coffee machine, and how to request extra pillows or towels.
8. Housekeeping: cleaning times, how to opt out for sustainability, and towel reuse policy.
9. Local area: restaurants, attractions, transport, pharmacies and ATMs within walking distance.
10. Transport: airport transfers, taxi numbers, ride-hailing pickup points and public transport.
11. Policies: smoking, pets, noise, visitors and damage.
12. Safety and emergencies: fire exits, assembly point, emergency numbers, nearest hospital and reception's direct line.

Printed vs Digital Hotel Compendium

How Guests Access a Digital Compendium

The most reliable method is a QR code. Place it where guests naturally look:

• A small stand on the desk or bedside table.
• The back of the room door, next to the fire escape plan.
• The key card holder handed over at check-in.
• The TV welcome screen, if your system supports it.

Also send the link in the pre-arrival email and booking confirmation. Guests who read the compendium before they arrive ask fewer questions at the front desk and are more likely to pre-book dining or spa treatments.

How to Set Up a Digital Compendium in an Afternoon

1. Gather what you already have. Your current printed folder, menus, facility hours and local recommendations are the starting point.
2. Create the compendium. In StayScan, add your hotel name and location and let the AI guidebook writer produce a first draft, then edit each section.
3. Add your branding. Upload your logo, choose your colours and a cover photo so the compendium looks like part of your hotel.
4. Check the translations. Preview the compendium in your guests' most common languages.
5. Print the QR codes. Download a branded QR code and place it in every room and at reception.
6. Train the front desk. Ask staff to mention the compendium at check-in and to update it whenever something changes.

For more on hotel use cases, see digital guidebooks for hotels and StayScan for boutique hotels.

Tips for a Compendium Guests Actually Use

• Put the three most-asked questions, usually Wi-Fi, breakfast times and check-out time, at the very top.
• Keep each section short and scannable on a phone screen.
• Use photos for facilities and the local area; guests skim images faster than text.
• Add an AI chat assistant so guests can type a question at any hour and get an instant answer from your compendium.
• Review the content every month and after every menu or price change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hotel compendium?

A hotel compendium is the guest information folder found in hotel rooms. It explains the hotel's services, facilities, opening hours, policies and local area. A digital compendium provides the same information on the guest's phone through a QR code or link.

What should a hotel compendium include?

At minimum: a welcome note, Wi-Fi details, check-in and check-out times, dining and room service information, facilities and their hours, in-room instructions, housekeeping, local recommendations, transport, hotel policies and emergency information.

Do guests need to download an app to use a digital compendium?

No. A web-based digital compendium opens in the phone's browser after scanning a QR code, so guests do not need to download or install anything.

Can a digital compendium be translated for international guests?

Yes. Tools such as StayScan translate the compendium automatically into 30+ languages based on the guest's phone language, and guests can switch language at any time.

How much does a digital hotel compendium cost?

Costs vary by provider and number of rooms or properties. StayScan offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required, then paid plans from $6/month. Enterprise hotel platforms can cost much more because they bundle booking and payment systems.

StayScan is a digital guidebook for Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com and Agoda hosts: one QR code gives guests Wi-Fi, check-in steps, house rules and local tips in 30+ languages. Create your guidebook with a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.