The project dashboard is a free tool that is only available to verified hoteliers to make adopting new technology easier by streamlining their research and simplifying their communication workflow.
TLDR
We analyzed 57 verified hotelier reviews, compared feature sets, pricing, and real-world case studies to break down where each platform delivers. The right choice depends on your property type and priorities:
Akia shines when it comes to guest messaging — especially for brand properties (5.0/5) , with exclusive features like Mobile Friendly and Guest History.
DOWHAT shines , with exclusive features like Hotel Website Check-in Portal.
Side-by-side ratings based on 57 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | From $400/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 42 | 15 |
After analyzing 57 verified reviews, Akia users most value its guest messaging, team communication and task management, contactless check-in, while DOWHAT users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Guest messaging
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Team communication and task management
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Contactless check-in
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Customer feedback and reputation management
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Automated responses
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Integration and data synchronization
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Guidebooks and digital tools
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How each product ranks among Contactless Check-in vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #4 17 reviews | #17 1 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #4 18 reviews | #25 0 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | #19 0 reviews | #14 1 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #16 0 reviews | #3 13 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #4 17 reviews | #8 10 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #6 7 reviews | #3 14 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #4 10 reviews | #11 4 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #7 6 reviews | #8 4 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #2 41 reviews | #18 0 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | — | #10 15 reviews |
Choosing between Akia Contactless Check-In by Akia and DOWHAT’s E-Reg. Card hinges on your hotel’s specific needs for contactless operations. Both products aim to streamline check-ins, but Akia offers a broader suite of communication and automation features, while DOWHAT emphasizes eco-friendly, paperless registration. Your decision should be based on whether you prioritize advanced guest engagement tools or sustainability-focused check-in processes.
If your hotel needs a comprehensive guest communication system with automation, Akia is the stronger option. If your priority is reducing paper waste and supporting ESG initiatives, DOWHAT’s E-Reg. Card may be more aligned. But which truly fits your operational goals?
Both products aim to simplify check-in, but Akia offers a full-featured platform that includes automated messaging, guest history, chatbot booking, and integrations with PMS systems within hours. DOWHAT’s E-Reg. Card is a straightforward digital registration tool, eliminating paper forms to support sustainability. Akia’s extensive feature set and high user ratings—4.95/5 from 38 reviews—outperform DOWHAT’s limited user feedback and zero recent reviews.
Akia’s recent reviews, with a 97% likelihood to recommend and a score of 63.2/100, underscore its strong market presence. Conversely, DOWHAT’s zero recent reviews and only 14 total reviews suggest less recent adoption and weaker confidence in its current performance.
Does your hotel prioritize a full contactless communication suite or a simple, eco-friendly check-in?
If your hotel needs a flexible, feature-rich contactless system with high customer satisfaction, go with Akia. Its extensive features—including a mobile-friendly interface, photo sharing, WhatsApp integration, and PMS synchronization—make it suitable for boutique, branded, or resort hotels seeking operational efficiency.
If your hotel places a premium on sustainability and reducing paper waste, DOWHAT’s E-Reg. Card is a viable choice. It’s ideal for properties committed to ESG goals, particularly in markets where environmental initiatives are a selling point. However, with Akia’s larger hotel segment coverage and broader adoption, it’s the safer, more proven choice for most hoteliers.
Akia’s UI is rated 4.82/5, with reviews praising its intuitive setup and comprehensive onboarding experience. Users highlight that Akia’s team is knowledgeable and responsive, facilitating easy staff adoption. DOWHAT’s interface is similarly rated 4.79/5, with feedback indicating it’s straightforward but less detailed in onboarding feedback.
Akia’s extensive feature set, including a desktop app and multiple integrations, might require a learning curve, but its high scores reflect a well-designed user experience. DOWHAT’s simpler approach may appeal to hotels with minimal tech needs but offers less in terms of advanced usability features.
Edge: Akia.
Akia boasts 17 features exclusive to its platform, including photo sharing, chatbot booking, WhatsApp integration, automated replies, message routing, guest history, and PMS integration. Its versatility supports a wide range of hotel types, from boutique to resorts.
DOWHAT’s primary unique feature is its hotel website check-in portal, a single but valuable addition for hotels seeking digital branding. Shared features total 18, with Akia leading in depth and variety, making it the more comprehensive choice.
Edge: Akia.
Akia’s support scores 4.86/5, with reviews emphasizing fast, knowledgeable responses and smooth onboarding. Customers praise Akia’s team for their helpfulness and ongoing support, making implementation hassle-free.
DOWHAT’s support scores slightly lower at 4.71/5, with reviews indicating that while service is generally good, there’s less detailed feedback or recent engagement. Given the larger review count and more recent reviews of Akia, it demonstrates stronger customer support.
Edge: Akia.
Akia integrates with 32 verified partners, including major PMS providers like Oracle Hospitality, RoomRaccoon, and Stayntouch. It supports a wide variety of third-party systems, making it adaptable for different hotel tech stacks.
DOWHAT only has 2 verified integrations, with one shared partner, Oracle Hospitality. Its limited integration ecosystem restricts flexibility, favoring Akia for hotels that rely on a diverse set of systems.
Edge: Akia.
Hoteliers rate Akia at 4.95/5 based on 38 reviews, with recent feedback indicating high satisfaction, especially among boutique and resort properties. Many reviewers praise its operational impact and guest experience improvements.
DOWHAT’s reviews are limited, with no recent feedback or high ratings, indicating weaker market validation. The larger, more recent review base for Akia makes it the more trusted product among hoteliers.
Edge: Akia.
Akia does not publicly list pricing and appears to operate on a custom quote basis, with no trial options or flat-rate plans. DOWHAT charges a flat $400/month fee, with no trial or tiered pricing.
Given Akia’s extensive features, its pricing may reflect a higher investment but offers more value, especially when considering ROI and support.
Not ideal if you prefer a minimal setup or lack the resources for onboarding a feature-rich platform.
Not ideal if you need extensive guest communication features or integrations.
Akia offers a comprehensive, well-reviewed platform with a broad feature set, multiple integrations, and strong customer support. It’s ideal for hotels seeking a full suite of contactless, automated guest engagement tools that improve operational efficiency.
DOWHAT’s E-Reg. Card provides a straightforward, eco-friendly check-in alternative suited for hotels committed to sustainability and minimal digital infrastructure. However, its limited reviews and features make it less suitable for hotels requiring advanced contactless solutions.
If your hotel’s priority is a proven, feature-rich platform that scales across segments, Akia is the clear choice. For properties focused solely on reducing paper and supporting environmental goals, DOWHAT may suffice—but with less confidence in ongoing support and innovation.
According to HTR's product database, Akia Contactless Check-In and E-Reg. Card by DOWHAT share 18 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Automated Replies | ||
| Chatbot Booking Agent | ||
| Desktop App (non-web based) | ||
| Hotel Website Check-in Portal | ||
| Mobile Friendly | ||
| Photo Sharing | ||
| Whatsapp Integration |
Showing top differences. 6 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 1 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
"Automation emphasizes the guests experience at their fingertips. Akia closes the gap of missed opportunities by acting as a liaison to our guest satisfaction efforts. We have been..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
What hoteliers love
The messaging system is prized for facilitating real-time communication with guests, enhancing service quality. It helps staff manage guest requests a... The messaging system is prized for facilitating real-time communication with guests, enhancing service quality. It helps staff manage guest requests and issues promptly, which positively impacts guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Internal team communication and task management features are highlighted as significant benefits. These tools help hotel staff coordinate efficiently,... Internal team communication and task management features are highlighted as significant benefits. These tools help hotel staff coordinate efficiently, track tasks, and manage guest needs more effectively. Users believe improvements could be made in the clarity and usability of these systems.
Reviewers consistently appreciate Akia's contactless check-in feature, stating it makes the check-in process seamless and efficient. This feature redu... Reviewers consistently appreciate Akia's contactless check-in feature, stating it makes the check-in process seamless and efficient. This feature reduces physical interactions, streamlines the guest arrival experience, and ensures compliance with health guidelines, especially valued during the pandemic.
Where hoteliers push back
Many users highlight the benefit of Akia's automated responses which save time and effort. However, several reviews mention that these automated respo... Many users highlight the benefit of Akia's automated responses which save time and effort. However, several reviews mention that these automated responses can sometimes be inaccurate or mistimed, causing confusion for guests and requiring manual intervention from staff.
Users appreciate Akia's integration capabilities with PMS and other systems but desire improvements such as seamless credit card transaction integrati... Users appreciate Akia's integration capabilities with PMS and other systems but desire improvements such as seamless credit card transaction integration and better synchronization features to eliminate duplicated efforts and manual data entry.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Akia Contactless Check-In and E-Reg. Card by DOWHAT share many core Contactless Check-in features, but each has unique capabilities. Akia Contactless Check-In offers 32 verified integration partners, while E-Reg. Card by DOWHAT offers 2. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Akia Contactless Check-In leads in ease of use at 4.8/5 vs 4.8/5. Look for transparent pricing and a trial or demo option. Filter reviews on each product page by property size to hear from hotels like yours.
Akia Contactless Check-In: No. E-Reg. Card by DOWHAT: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Contactless Check-in vendors offer demos or trials — request one from each to evaluate before committing.
The HT Score is a composite ranking that considers 4 criteria groups and over a dozen variables to help hoteliers objectively compare hotel technology products. Akia has an HT Score of 63 and DOWHAT has 0. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
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| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
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How highly do users recommend this product? Ratings Score, Review Volume, Share of Voice, Review Depth, Review Recency, Success Stories ▾ The most heavily weighted factor. Analyzes average satisfaction ratings (likelihood to recommend, ease of use, support, ROI), total review count relative to category peers, review recency (at least 20 reviews in the trailing 6 months), and share of voice across unique hotel clients to detect selection bias. |
| Partner Ecosystem |
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How highly do tech partners recommend this company? Partner Recommendations, Integration Quantity, Integration Quality ▾ Evaluates partner recommendations as expert votes of confidence, the number of verified integrations, and ecosystem quality — the average HT Scores of integration partners. Products with higher-quality integration ecosystems are more likely to deliver a connected tech stack. |
| Customer Centricity |
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How customer-centric is this organization? Certified Support, Review Consistency, Profile Completeness ▾ Assesses whether the company has earned HTR Customer Support Certification, maintains consistent review collection over time (an indicator of feedback-driven culture), and keeps product profiles complete with capabilities, screenshots, pricing, and features. |
| Reach, Staying Power & Resources |
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How extensive is this company's reach and resourcing? Geographic Reach, Staying Power, Company Resources, Trending Score ▾ Measures global presence (countries and regions served), years in business as a stability proxy, team headcount as a resource proxy, and a trending score based on trailing-twelve-month buyer inquiries, reviews, partner recommendations, and press activity. |
Customer ratings and reviews are by far the most important factor in the HT Score algorithm. HTR does not accept payment for higher rankings. All reviews are verified — only hotel industry practitioners with confirmed affiliations can submit ratings. View full HT Score methodology →
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