See an example of ANPR-triggered arrivals at West Dorset Leisure Holidays: what each guest type receives, how the barrier, PMS and guest app connect, and three checks to run first.
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For most guests, arrival day is the best day. After weeks of anticipation, they’re finally pulling onto the park. For operators, it’s often the most pressured point of the whole guest journey, with check-ins stacking up, keys to hand over, pitches to confirm and a reception team doing five things at once.
We’ve been working on this problem for a while, and earlier this year, with James Cox and the team at West Dorset Leisure Holidays and with ParcVu powered by Booking Experts, we took a solution live.
What’s now running at West Dorset connects the park’s ANPR system, Booking Experts PMS and Holidaymaker’s guest communication feature into one joined-up arrival flow. The integration was built in collaboration with Key Digital, one of Holidaymaker’s digital integration partners.
The journey starts at the point of booking. A guest books online through the park website, powered by Booking Experts. From there, they’re invited to download the guest app ahead of arrival. By the time they’re heading to the park, they’re already set up.
When they arrive, the ANPR system reads their number plate at the barrier, grants access and logs the arrival directly into Booking Experts. That single event automatically triggers Holidaymaker’s guest communication feature, which sends a personalised welcome message to the guest without anyone on the park team having to do a thing.
The most immediate effect is fewer manual tasks at arrival. Guests get what they need the moment they drive through the barrier, which means the reception team can focus on anything that really needs a person rather than answering the same questions repeatedly. Park managers also gain clear, real-time visibility of arrivals as they happen.
The ANPR trigger does more than automate a check-in message. Because the platform knows who is on park, when they arrived and what type of accommodation they’re in, park teams can build specific guest audiences and message them directly.
That might be a weather alert to all camping guests before a wet morning. A road closure update for anyone arriving that afternoon. An event reminder for guests already on site. A late-availability offer for those checking out tomorrow.
Targeted, timely and through channels guests are already using.
A big thank you to James Cox and the team at West Dorset, and to ParcVu powered by Booking Experts and Key Digital for making this happen.
Related reading: the arrival experience, the departure experience and our integrations page. See the Help Centre for setup guidance.
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