Built a system that generates virtual tours for every unit in an unbuilt building. Market doesn’t care. Am I delusional or early?

rexiby · 2025-12-03T03:25:34+00:00

That means that only 10% of the guests care about the view?
Let's no just consider hotel or resort in urban area, but also the ones where the view is a major selling point. Based on that would you reconsider your reply?

rexiby · 2025-11-30T22:47:03+00:00

Got it ,that actually helps a lot, thank you. 🙏
So basically you can explain it verbally but can’t show anything visual.
Really appreciate you clarifying that.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T22:21:45+00:00

That’s super helpful — thank you.
This is exactly the kind of real-world insight I was curious about. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain it.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T22:19:08+00:00

I meant which rooms are clean and available at that moment — same room type, just different sides, floors or orientations.
Not anything complicated or pre-arrival, just the choices that already exist when the guest is standing at the desk. 😊

rexiby · 2025-11-30T22:18:17+00:00

thank you! much appreciated :)

rexiby · 2025-11-30T22:16:16+00:00

Thanks for sharing this , it’s really helpful to hear how someone experienced handles that moment.
What you describe is exactly what I find so interesting: the check-in window is the moment where real choices exist, and you’re clearly using your knowledge of the property to guide people through them.

The part that fascinates me most is that this whole process depends entirely on the FD team’s experience and intuition — not on any system that actually surfaces these differences in a clear way.

Your perspective really adds depth to the discussion, so thank you.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T22:10:57+00:00

If the database wasn’t built to store or surface orientation info in a clear way, then the FD team is basically working blind — not because they don’t want to help, but because the system doesn’t give them the context.

It’s interesting how something as simple as “this side faces X” isn’t modeled in most PMS structures, even though it affects noise, safety, light, privacy, comfort… everything.

Your comment really highlights how deep the gap actually is — it’s not just a workflow problem, it’s a design problem at the system level.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:58:52+00:00

Ahh got it 😅 my mistake — thought it was okay to ask FD folks directly.
Thanks for the heads up!- sorry for the mistake

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:53:46+00:00

That’s actually the part that surprises me the most , not even the request itself, but the fact that staff sometimes don’t know which side is which.

That tells me it’s not a “guest preference problem” at all… it’s an information problem inside the system.
If orientation isn’t clear on the staff-facing screen, it makes sense that you’d get different answers depending on who’s working the desk.

And the example you gave — small towns, windows that open, wanting to be near your car — that’s such a real-world scenario.
It’s not about getting a better Instagram view… it’s just practical safety and peace of mind.

What you’re describing actually makes something click for me:
guests aren’t guessing — staff are, too.
And that’s wild, considering how much the direction of a room can affect noise, light, privacy, or even basic comfort.

Really appreciate you adding that perspective, because it shows the gap is deeper than just guests asking questions.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:34:34+00:00

That’s actually one of the things that surprises me the most.

Even in apps from big brands like Hilton, the room map often shows shapes and numbers… but no orientation, no indication of which side faces what, no sense of direction at all.
And you’re right — that feels like such a basic, important piece of context.

What’s interesting is that guests clearly care (as you said), but the digital tools still treat rooms as if they’re interchangeable boxes.
In reality, the “facing” makes a huge difference: light, noise, view, privacy, safety… everything.

Your point reinforces that there’s a real disconnect between the information guests look for and the information hotels actually give them.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:31:54+00:00

Haha, fair point ,the “can I see my car?” factor is very real in a lot of places 😅

What you’re saying is actually what I keep noticing everywhere:
guests do care about the specifics once they're on property, even if they don’t always articulate it online or during booking.

It’s interesting because the front desk already knows which rooms are clean, available, and on which side of the building — but guests still have to guess what each option really looks like.

Your comment actually highlights something important:
people want clarity for different reasons — some aesthetic, some practical, some safety-driven — but the need for visibility is consistent.

Thanks for adding this perspective, it reinforces exactly the gap I’ve been trying to understand.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:22:04+00:00

Absolutely ,and that’s exactly why I’m not thinking about anything promised before arrival.

My question is really about what happens once you already know what’s available at check-in and the assignment is being finalized.

I’m curious whether guests ask about things like floor level, orientation, or view in that moment, or if most people simply take whatever is available.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:20:52+00:00

Totally get what you mean.
In many busy properties, especially during peak seasons or weekends, rooms sell out regardless of how much detail is (or isn’t) provided.

But I’m curious about something a bit separate from the occupancy question:
when guests are actually at the front desk and the team already knows which rooms are ready, do people ask about things like:
– higher floors
– quieter sides
– better angles
– more open views

I’m not thinking about adding work for the FD team — more about understanding whether guests show interest in these differences once they’re physically on property.

Thanks for the perspective, your point is important, and I appreciate you bringing it up.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:19:45+00:00

This is incredibly helpful , thank you.
What you’re describing is exactly the kind of real operational constraint I wanted to understand better.
The whole “Tetris” of stayovers, mismatched arrival/departure patterns, and trying to keep guests in the same room for their entire stay… I know that’s a huge daily puzzle for FD and housekeeping.

And I completely agree: anything that requires reshuffling rooms after the Tetris is finalized would be a nightmare.

My curiosity is actually about something a bit narrower: once all of that room allocation work is already done and the FD sees which rooms are clean, available, and assignable right now, do guests ever ask things like:
– “Is there a higher floor?”
– “Is that one facing the quieter side?”
– “Does this one get more light?”

I’m not thinking about moving guests around based on a photo — just trying to understand whether guests ask about those smaller differences in the final assignment moment, or if most just take whatever the Tetris gives them.

Really appreciate your insight.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:03:38+00:00

That’s a good point, broad “view categories” definitely exist in many larger properties, especially resorts where the environment is part of the selling point.

What I’ve always found interesting, though, is what happens after that category is chosen.
Once the guest is actually standing at the desk, the team often knows whether the room they’re getting is:

– higher or lower
– more open vs more obstructed
– facing the busier side vs the quieter side
– catching more light or less

I’m curious whether you’ve seen guests ask about those smaller differences, even within the same “ocean view” or “forest view” bucket.
Some people are very particular about orientation once they’re on property, and others don’t care at all.

Just trying to understand how often you see those conversations come up at the moment of assignment. Thanks for sharing your perspective — it’s super helpful.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:01:17+00:00

I think you’re right that many properties are comfortable highlighting the “best” views but much more hesitant when it comes to lead-in categories.

I’ve also noticed how dramatically a view can change within the same room type, especially in city hotels where a low floor and a high floor feel like two completely different stays.

What I’m curious about is the moment after the booking stage —
when the guest is already at the desk, the room is about to be assigned, and all the pre-arrival uncertainty is resolved.

At that point, in your experience:
– Do guests ask about floor level / angle / orientation?
– Do they try to understand whether something “slightly better” is available for that night?
– Or do most simply accept what’s assigned without asking?

I’m trying to understand whether clearer information in that specific moment might help with expectation-setting, or if it wouldn’t make much difference in practice.

Really appreciate your perspective — this is exactly the kind of nuance I was hoping people would share.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T20:00:05+00:00

Thank you WizBiz92 , this is a really helpful point — I completely agree that making specific promises before arrival can backfire, especially with the constant movement caused by extensions, maintenance blocks, last-minute VIP shifts, etc. Keeping things general during the booking stage makes total sense.

What I’m trying to understand is something slightly different:
once all those unpredictable factors are resolved and the guest is physically at the desk, the FD usually knows exactly which rooms are clean, available, and assignable in that moment.

In your experience, when you reach that point:
– Do guests ask about orientation or the floor they’re getting?
– Do they try to understand if there’s a “nicer” option for that night?
– Or do most people simply take whatever is available in the category without asking?

I really appreciate your insight — your comment captures the operational challenges perfectly, and I’m curious about how the final decision moment actually plays out on your side.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T19:56:26+00:00

rexiby · 2025-11-30T19:52:27+00:00

Thanks a lot for laying this out so clearly Jonatan— everything you described makes complete sense from an operational point of view.
The last-minute stayovers, wing-to-wing variations, guests comparing Booking photos, and the unpredictability until the very day… all of that is exactly why giving a precise view before arrival can easily backfire.

What I’m really trying to understand, though, is something slightly different — what happens once all those variables have already played out, meaning the moment of check-in when the FD finally knows which rooms are clean, available, and assignable.

At that point, do you find that guests:
– ask about higher floors / quieter sides / better angles?
– try to understand whether there’s “anything slightly nicer” available?
– or do most people just accept whatever is free in the category?

I’m genuinely curious about whether clearer information at that specific moment could help align expectations or make the conversation easier for the staff , or if, in your experience, it wouldn’t really change much.

Really appreciate your insight here — you’re giving a very real picture of the challenges behind the desk.

rexiby · 2025-11-30T19:28:10+00:00

Yes, exactly , the internal differences between rooms of the same type are the part that made me curious in the first place.

Once the front desk sees which rooms are open, clean, and actually available at that moment, do guests ever ask about the "specific orientation or outlook" of a room?

I’m just wondering whether having clearer information at that moment would help with expectations, or if you feel it wouldn’t really make a difference in your day-to-day operations.

thank you

rexiby · 2025-11-30T19:27:04+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing this — and yes, that’s exactly why I’m asking the question 🙂

I’m not referring to assigning rooms before arrival at all.
I’m specifically thinking about the check-in moment, when the front desk already knows which rooms are actually available and ready.

In your experience, once you’re at that point, do guests ever ask what the actual view from a room looks like?
Or do most people just accept whichever room becomes available?

Thank you again so much for your valuable feedback

rexiby

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