How Wawelberg Hotel Built a Digital Guest Communication System

Wawelberg Hotel is a premium hospitality project located in Saint Petersburg, Russia, focused on delivering a high level of service and catering to diverse guest segments — from individual travelers to business event participants.

The hotel actively hosts conferences and forums, working daily with large visitor flows and complex internal navigation. From the early concept stage, the hotel team placed a strong emphasis on technology and a digital environment as an integral part of the guest experience.

The goal was to create a unified communication system for guests across all key areas of the hotel — from the lobby and elevators to corridors and event spaces. The task was not just to display information, but to make it clear, timely, and easy to understand.

The hotel deliberately moved away from traditional tools such as paper signage and printed notices. These formats cannot keep up with the dynamic nature of a hotel environment: information quickly becomes outdated, loses its visual quality within a day, and requires constant manual updates from staff. During events, this leads to reception overload and guest disorientation.

At the core of the solution is the SmartPlayer platform, which enabled all devices to be integrated into a single digital network and managed from one interface.
The screen infrastructure was designed based on guest movement logic and interaction scenarios:

— Elevator screens display short messages and updates. This is a high-attention zone where content is delivered most effectively within a few seconds.
— An interactive kiosk was installed in the lobby as the primary point of information for guests.
— A transparent LED screen was placed on the facade, serving a branding function and attracting attention from the street.
— Navigation tablets were installed in corridors and event areas, becoming a key orientation tool. Positioned at decision points, they help guests quickly find the right hall or event.
— Holographic fans were additionally used to enhance visual communication.

All devices — from large panels to tablets — are centrally managed via SmartPlayer. Content updates instantly and can change depending on current events. For example, the same tablet can display different navigation throughout the day: directing guests to a conference in the morning and to a banquet in the afternoon.

Special attention was given to the technical architecture. Devices operate within a secure network, and offline players ensure stable content playback even in areas with poor connectivity, such as elevators. This guarantees high system reliability without compromising display quality.

The system was also adapted for different roles within the hotel. The marketing team manages content and visuals, IT handles infrastructure, while administrators and event managers can independently and quickly update information through a simple interface — without involving designers.

As a result of the implementation, the hotel completely eliminated paper-based materials. All information about events, services, and navigation is now updated centrally and in real time.

Guests navigate the space more easily, even during large-scale events with high occupancy. The number of routine questions at the reception has decreased, freeing staff from repetitive tasks related to signage and announcements.

The system proved highly effective under heavy event load: navigation adapts to schedules and updates without delays, eliminating confusion and queues.
Additionally, the hotel gained a strong brand image benefit. The visual presentation of information became part of the overall user experience, reinforcing Wawelberg’s positioning as a modern and technology-driven space.

The project demonstrated that Digital Signage in hospitality is not just a standalone tool, but a comprehensive communication management system that impacts both operational processes and service quality.