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Haya Hotels
Hospitality · Netherlands
97% fewer damage incidents
Haya Hotels eliminates fraud and property damage with eKYC digital check-in, with 86% of guests checking in before arrival
GuestWave digital check-in with automated identity verification eliminates the manual check-in process entirely for 86% of guests, removing fraud risk, reducing administrative burden, and freeing staff for genuine hospitality.
Friction
A twelve-property boutique hotel group in The Hague processed all check-ins manually via chat and physical ID checks. The process was fraud-prone, time-intensive, and regularly resulted in property damage and theft from guests whose identities were not properly verified.
Breakthrough
GuestWave platform with online check-in flow before arrival. eKYC for automatic identity verification. Hummingbird Data Group validates 50,000+ records monthly. Automatic integration with the booking system with no double entry. Digital key issuance on verification. GDPR-compliant and ISO 27001 certified.
Impact
97% fewer property damage, theft, and unauthorised party incidents. 86% of guests check in online before arrival, keys ready on arrival with no queue and no paperwork. Fraud risk in guest identification effectively eliminated. Administrative burden on front desk team substantially reduced. Staff fully redirected from administration to guest experience. Nominated for Computable Awards 2025 in the SME project category.
Unlock the full analysis with breakthrough, impact, what made it smart and its technical approach below!
Problem
Small hotel groups cannot afford the same security infrastructure as large chains. Haya Hotels was losing money and reputation to fraudulent guests and unverified identities, a structural vulnerability that came from the manual check-in process. The solution did not require big-budget technology; it required connecting existing tools in the right sequence.
What made it smart
For an SME with limited IT resources, the fully brownfield integration is the key innovation. GuestWave connects to the existing booking system with no new infrastructure and no duplicate data entry. The eKYC verification happens automatically in the guest flow before arrival. Guests who would previously have caused problems are identified and declined before they ever walk in.
Technical approach
GuestWave digital registration platform sends guests a pre-arrival check-in link. Guests complete identity verification via eKYC, combining document scan and liveness check, which Hummingbird Data Group validates against global databases. On successful verification, the booking system is automatically updated and digital keys are issued. Staff receive a consolidated view of all arrivals with verification status.
Strategic lesson
Digital transformation for SMEs does not require large budgets or complex systems. It requires connecting three things: a guest flow, an identity check, and a key. When those are automated and integrated, the safety and operational benefits are disproportionately large.
Reflection question
In your customer onboarding or access process, where are you still accepting identity on trust, and what would automated verification change for your risk exposure, your operations, and your customer experience?