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 215 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:
Ailleron shines , with exclusive features like Mobile Checkin and Payments.
STAY shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for brand properties (0.0/5) , with exclusive features like Mobile App.
Side-by-side ratings based on 215 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | From $300/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 0 | 215 |
After analyzing 215 verified reviews, Ailleron users most value its , while STAY users highlight guest experience optimization, mobile and user experience, operational efficiency. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Guest Experience Optimization
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Mobile and User Experience
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Operational Efficiency
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Support and Service
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CMS and Customization
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Integration Capabilities
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Analytics and Reporting
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How each product ranks among Hotel Guest Apps 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) ▾ | — | #9 10 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | — | #4 83 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | — | #2 89 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | — | #2 24 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | — | #2 77 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | — | #2 88 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | — | #3 91 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #6 7 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | — | #5 27 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | — | #3 112 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #6 3 reviews |
| Middle East | — | #7 2 reviews |
Choosing between iLumio Mobile Concierge by Ailleron and STAY Guest App hinges on your hotel’s specific needs, operational scale, and guest engagement goals. Both products aim to enhance guest experiences and streamline hotel communications, but they differ significantly in features, market presence, and user feedback. Your decision should align with whether you prioritize a highly customizable, mobile-first experience or a comprehensive, multi-system integration approach.
While Ailleron’s offering centers on advanced personalization and mobile check-in, STAY has a broader footprint with more recent reviews and a higher overall rating. Which of these products will truly elevate your guest service and operational efficiency?
In the realm of hotel guest apps, both iLumio and STAY target similar challenges—improving guest communication, reducing front desk queues, and digitizing services. iLumio offers features like mobile check-in and payments, emphasizing customization and a deep mobile experience. Conversely, STAY provides a suite with more integrations, real-time updates, and a focus on operational automation across hotel departments.
However, iLumio’s lack of recent reviews and a zero-rated user feedback score make it difficult to gauge current guest satisfaction or support quality. Meanwhile, STAY’s 206 reviews, all recent, show a hotel industry that values its ease of use and support. Does your hotel need a proven, well-rated platform, or are you seeking a highly personalized mobile concierge?
If your hotel needs a highly customizable mobile app that manages the entire guest journey—from booking to check-out—and has features like mobile check-in and payments, iLumio could be appealing. Its focus on branding and tailoring the guest experience suits luxury resorts or boutique hotels looking for a personalized touch.
On the other hand, if your hotel prioritizes operational efficiency, multi-system integration, and proven scalability, STAY is the safer choice. It works well for large chains and independent hotels alike, with over 1,000 properties trusting the platform, and offers features like chatbots, automated replies, and a web app. For a hotel aiming for rapid, measurable improvements in guest engagement and internal workflows, STAY’s track record makes it the clear winner.
Ease of use is crucial for staff onboarding and guest adoption. STAY’s user ratings are remarkably high—4.78 out of 5 for ease of use, backed by 206 recent reviews, with many praising its intuitive interface and straightforward content management. Customers frequently mention its simple setup and minimal training requirements.
In contrast, iLumio’s rating is nonexistent, and no recent reviews are available to judge its user experience or implementation process. Without recent feedback, it’s hard to validate its usability or how well staff adapts. Edge: STAY.
iLumio offers two exclusive features—mobile check-in and payments—both critical for enhancing personalization and operational flexibility. STAY, however, boasts a richer feature set with five unique features not available in iLumio, including a chatbot, automated replies, message routing, a web app, and a comprehensive guest experience platform.
Both products share nine core features, but STAY’s additional functionalities and broader suite mean more tools to digitize and automate your hotel operations. When it comes to feature depth and innovation, STAY’s broader capabilities give it a significant edge.
Customer support can make or break the implementation of hotel tech. STAY’s support ratings are nearly perfect—4.83 out of 5, with positive comments about its responsiveness and helpful service. Recent reviews confirm that hotel teams find STAY’s onboarding smooth and support highly reliable.
iLumio, however, has no available recent reviews or ratings, making it impossible to assess its support quality or responsiveness. Given the importance of reliable support, STAY’s proven track record clearly favors it. Edge: STAY.
Integration capabilities are vital for seamless hotel operations. STAY connects with 20 verified partners, including major PMS and CRM systems like Oracle Hospitality, Hotelkit, and SiteMinder, and has five shared integrations with iLumio. This extensive network supports smoother data flow and operational harmony.
iLumio’s nine verified partners are fewer, and its integrations lean toward specific systems like SIHOT and Adyen. For hotels seeking robust, flexible integrations that support large-scale operations, STAY’s broader ecosystem is the clear choice. Edge: STAY.
Recent reviews heavily favor STAY, with an overall rating of 3/5 based on 206 reviews in the last six months. Hoteliers commend its ease of use, support, and value, especially in large or chain hotels where proven performance is key.
iLumio has no recent reviews or ratings, making it impossible to gauge current hotel sentiment. Given the transparent, recent feedback, STAY clearly holds the higher approval rating among hotel professionals. Edge: STAY.
Pricing details for iLumio are not publicly available, likely requiring direct contact for a quote, which could indicate a customized pricing model. STAY charges a straightforward $300 per month, with no implementation or setup fees, making costs predictable and transparent.
The lack of clear pricing for iLumio makes comparative analysis difficult, but the transparent flat fee of STAY offers better budget clarity. If budget predictability matters, STAY’s model is advantageous.
Hotels that:
Not ideal if:
Hotels that:
Not ideal if:
The core difference is that iLumio offers a highly customizable, mobile-first solution focused on personalization and branding, while STAY provides a broader, more integrated platform proven to streamline operations at scale. Your choice should depend on your hotel’s size, integration needs, and operational priorities.
Choose iLumio if your hotel emphasizes luxury, branding, and guest customization, and you have the resources to implement a tailored app. Opt for STAY if your goal is to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and leverage an established platform with extensive integrations and recent positive hotel reviews.
For hotels seeking a reliable, highly-rated guest app with proven results and extensive features, STAY Guest App is the clearer, more confident choice. It is the platform most aligned with current hotel industry needs and trending guest expectations.
According to HTR's product database, iLumio Mobile Concierge (by Ailleron) and STAY Guest App share 9 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Automated Replies | ||
| Chatbot | ||
| Message Routing | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Mobile Checkin | ||
| Payments | ||
| Web-app |
We analyzed 8 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
No published case study for this goal yet.
"Thanks to STAY, we offer our guests an interaction tool with our staff. We can make real-time decisions with it. This simplifies our staff's duties at the same time. The guest expe..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"Implementing STAY contributed to a significant increase in our revenue and customer satisfaction. The app pays for itself. We have seen significant increases in consumption for all..."
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
Multiple reviews highlight how STAY dramatically enhances guest experience by providing digital and sustainable ways for guests to access information... Multiple reviews highlight how STAY dramatically enhances guest experience by providing digital and sustainable ways for guests to access information and services. Features like real-time updates, mobile service ordering, and the ability to make restaurant reservations reduce wait times and provide convenience.
The app's user interface and mobile experience are lauded for being intuitive and easy to navigate. Users find it simple to update information and man... The app's user interface and mobile experience are lauded for being intuitive and easy to navigate. Users find it simple to update information and manage content, whether they are hotel staff or guests.
STAY aids in improving hotel operational efficiency by allowing quicker handling of guest requests, optimized internal processes, and reduced front de... STAY aids in improving hotel operational efficiency by allowing quicker handling of guest requests, optimized internal processes, and reduced front desk lines. The tool facilitates sustainable practices by digitizing traditional paper-based services, aiding hotels in their sustainability goals.
Where hoteliers push back
The CMS is highlighted for its ease of use and customization capabilities, though users have indicated some areas for improvement, particularly more f... The CMS is highlighted for its ease of use and customization capabilities, though users have indicated some areas for improvement, particularly more flexibility in design and functionality.
Users appreciate STAY's robust integration capabilities with various internal applications and systems, including PMS and CRM systems. These integrati... Users appreciate STAY's robust integration capabilities with various internal applications and systems, including PMS and CRM systems. These integrations streamline data management and help provide a seamless experience for both staff and guests.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. iLumio Mobile Concierge (by Ailleron) and STAY Guest App share many core Hotel Guest Apps features, but each has unique capabilities. iLumio Mobile Concierge (by Ailleron) offers 9 verified integration partners, while STAY Guest App offers 20. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. STAY Guest App leads in ease of use at 4.8/5 vs 0.0/5. 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.
iLumio Mobile Concierge (by Ailleron): No. STAY Guest App: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Hotel Guest Apps 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. Ailleron has an HT Score of 0 and STAY has 47. 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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