Digital Check-In Allows Hotel Guests to Complete Registration Before Arrival

Hotels, inns and hostels throughout Brazil are now required to use the National Guest Registration Form in a fully digital format.

With the tool, guests will be able to check in ahead of time, before arriving at their hotel, through a link or QR code sent by the accommodation provider.

The process can also be completed directly on devices made available at the property.

The system complies with Brazil’s General Data Protection Law (LGPD), protecting users’ personal information.

Adopted on April 20, the digital form is the electronic version of a registration process that has existed for decades and has always been mandatory at lodging establishments in Brazil.

Changes

• Before: Forms were filled out manually at the hotel reception desk, with slower processes and information scattered across different formats.

• Now: Guests can complete forms online in advance, check-in is faster, and information is organized within an integrated digital system.

Alfredo Lopes, president of the Rio de Janeiro Municipality Hotels and Lodging Association (HotéisRIO), says the city began implementing the new model last year and that the major hotel chains have already adopted it.

“Imagine when a large group arrived at a hotel and how long it took to check everyone in. In Spain, visitors check in at their first hotel, receive a QR code and don’t need to repeat the procedure at other hotels. That’s the next step for Brazil,” Lopes said.

Data security

According to the government, the digital form does not represent any kind of tourist surveillance. The system was not designed to track movements, control travel or monitor citizens.

The information collected is essentially the same as that previously required on paper, including guest identification details. This information serves administrative and statistical purposes and supports public safety, as it did before the process became digital.

The data feed into the National Guest Registration System, allowing the government to obtain a more accurate picture of tourism flows in the country, including visitor numbers, tourist profiles and hotel occupancy rates.

No information is collected about tourists’ spending, consumption or behavior. The system does not follow routes, monitor movements or allow individuals to be tracked.

The data are used in aggregate form, without individual identification, to support public tourism policies, improve services and guide investment in the sector.

Source: brasil247.com