Europe's first GuestScan network has been launched in the UK this week. It was created to help about 10 000 small hotels in UK, holiday letting agencies and campsites to get more information about their clients and to check whether a customer's name is on a blacklist before accepting a booking.
The names of the guests who in some way violate hotel rules, leave without paying, steal robes or towels, trash rooms and make too much noise will be added to the list. Their details will stay on the blacklist database for 4 years before being removed automatically.
Access to the system is possible from a personal computer or smartphone by introducing a special code, obtained during the registration process. Neil Campbell, a 59-year-old businessman and the ideological founder of GuestScan, believes that the database is sufficiently protected and accessible only to GuestScan members. He is also convinced that the system will become comprehensive within six months. "In the long-term perspective the GuestScan system should lead to a change in the hotel guests' behavior", added Campbell.