Can it read bookings from booking platforms?

Usually through the calendar links that most booking platforms provide for each listing. Some details, such as the guest's phone number, may only be available in the platform's own messages.

Is it safe to send door codes this way?

The code is sent close to check-in rather than with the first message, and it can be changed between guests. Hosts with smart locks can use a new code for every booking.

Do guests have to agree to WhatsApp messages?

Ask guests to confirm the channel they prefer when they book, and let them opt out of messages at any time. Guests who decline receive the same details by email.

Does it work for a single unit?

Yes, but the time saved grows with the number of units and bookings. A single unit with a few bookings a month may be fine with saved message templates on a phone.

Can cleaners see the schedule?

Yes. Cleaners can get a simple view of arrivals and departures without access to guest contact details, so personal data stays with the host.

Homestays and short stays · Onboarding

Automatic guest check-in messages for homestays

By Wan Muhamad Fadzli (Pali). Published 2 October 2026

A homestay can send each confirmed guest a check-in message at the right time: arrival instructions, the door code or key pickup, house rules, parking and a map, in Bahasa Malaysia or English. Guests reply with their arrival time, the host sees it on one screen, and a checkout reminder follows on the last day.

Build this for me Price this in the calculator

What problem does this solve?

Hosts answer the same questions for every booking: where is the house, how do I get the key, where do I park, what time can I check in. Details are typed into chats by hand, often late at night, and guests who arrive without them call the host. With several units and bookings from different platforms, it is easy to send the wrong door code or forget a guest.

How does the automation work?

01Collect bookings in one calendarConfirmed bookings from direct enquiries and booking platforms are pulled into one calendar per unit, using the calendar links the platforms provide.
02Prepare a message for each unitEach unit has its own check-in template with the address, map link, parking notes, house rules and how the key works, written once in both languages.
03Send check-in details before arrivalA set number of days before arrival, the guest receives the check-in message on WhatsApp or email, and the door code is only sent on the morning of check-in.
04Ask for the arrival timeThe message asks the guest to reply with an expected arrival time, which appears on the host's daily screen next to the booking.
05Remind about checkoutOn the last morning the guest gets a short checkout reminder with the time and what to do with the key, followed by a thank you message.
06Give the host a daily run sheetEvery morning the host or cleaner sees today's arrivals, departures and arrival times, so cleaning and key handover can be planned without checking each chat.

Which tools does it use?

WhatsApp Business Platform
Booking platform calendar links
A custom web app for hosts
Email service

How long does it take and what does it cost?

Build time: About 1 to 2 weeks
Starting price: From RM 1,658; Typical range RM 1,658 to RM 2,243

A starting point from the published rate card. Your quote follows a short scoping call.

Price this in the calculator

How much time could it save?

Estimate

Estimate: about 2 to 4 hours of messaging saved each week for a host with five units, depending on booking volume and how many guests ask questions.

Depends on your volume and how the work is done today.

Has Pali built something similar?

UrusPro and HelloStayProperty-management and short-stay booking SaaS, moved off a no-code prototype onto an owned, multi-tenant platform on the edge.Read the case study