Guest chats live on a private phone — nobody else sees them, and nobody answers during holidays.
A team inbox in the browser: every message visible to authorised staff, with history, attachments and a link to the booking.
WhatsApp software for hotels
Guests prefer WhatsApp over email — but the owner's private phone is the wrong place for it: no team access, no automation, legally shaky. zimrly connects the official WhatsApp Business API to your existing PMS: confirmations, check-in info and answers to standard questions run automatically, everything else lands in a team inbox.
24/7
AI replies — even after hours
8+
PMS directly connected
100%
official WhatsApp Business API
What goes wrong without a proper WhatsApp setup
The same five questions every day: arrival, parking, Wi-Fi, breakfast times, check-out.
The AI assistant answers standard questions automatically, around the clock — with veto rules: complaints and unclear requests always escalate to a human.
Check-in info is sent manually — and forgotten on the busiest days.
Automatic check-in reminders with all details (arrival, code, times) at a configured hour before arrival, straight from your PMS booking data.
Using consumer WhatsApp for business is a GDPR risk.
zimrly uses the official WhatsApp Business API (Meta partner 360dialog) with templates and opt-in logic — clean instead of grey area.
How to get WhatsApp into your hotel
- 1
Connect your PMS
zimrly reads bookings from your existing PMS — 3rpms, apaleo, Smoobu, Beds24, Cloudbeds and more. No system change.
- 2
Connect a WhatsApp number
Via Meta partner 360dialog your hotel gets an official business number. zimrly guides you through the setup.
- 3
Switch on automations
Booking confirmation, check-in reminder, AI replies — each automation can be enabled individually. You stay in control.
Private phone vs. WhatsApp Business with zimrly
Private phone
zimrly + Business API
Team access
Only one person sees the chats
Team inbox in the browser, for all authorised staff
Standard questions
Every message typed by hand
AI replies automatically, escalation to humans
Check-in info
Sent manually, often forgotten
Automatic at a configured hour before arrival
GDPR
Grey area without opt-in and DPA
Official API with templates, opt-in and DPA
Booking context
Look up the booking manually
Message automatically linked to the booking
Frequently asked questions
Is a hotel even allowed to message guests on WhatsApp?
Yes — via the official WhatsApp Business API with guest consent (opt-in) and a data processing agreement. That is exactly how zimrly implements it. The consumer WhatsApp app on a private phone is not meant for commercial guest communication.
Do I need a new PMS for this?
No. zimrly sits as a module on top of your existing PMS and reads booking data from there. Your PMS stays in charge.
What happens when the AI can't answer a question?
Then it doesn't answer. Complaints, escalations and unclear requests are never answered automatically — they land in the team inbox with a notification.
What does it cost?
zimrly starts at €29/month (base plan); the WhatsApp module is an add-on. Meta charges small per-conversation fees on top. 30-day free trial, cancel monthly.
Guides on this topic
In-depth articles from the zimrly blog — practical knowledge, no sales pitch.
Reducing No-Shows and Cancellations: Deposit, Reminder, Clear Rules
Every no-show is an empty night noticed too late to resell. How small hotels lower the loss with a deposit, a timely reminder and clear cancellation rules.
WhatsApp Business for Hotels: Getting Templates and Opt-in Right
WhatsApp is the channel guests already use – but the business rules are strict. What template messages, the 24-hour window and opt-in practically mean for hotels.
WhatsApp for hotels: guest communication on autopilot
Why WhatsApp beats email for guests, how the Business API differs from the normal app, and how to automate confirmations, check-in reminders and door codes – without GDPR trouble.
Related solutions & integrations
Sources & further reading
zimrly doesn't replace your PMS or your front desk — it takes care of the messages that don't need a human, and makes sure the important ones never sit unanswered.
WhatsApp guest messaging
Guest communication on autopilot
Booking confirmations, check-in reminders and inquiries run over WhatsApp Business — with an AI assistant that answers simple questions itself and escalates complaints to you.