INTELITY Smart-Room Tablets vs. Lava:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between INTELITY’s Smart-Room Tablets and Lava’s in-room solutions hinges on what your hotel needs most. INTELITY offers a comprehensive, guest-focused platform with extensive features, while Lava specializes in hardware interfaces and connectivity devices, not integrated guest experience solutions. Both serve different core functions; your decision should align with whether you seek an all-in-one digital guest engagement system or reliable hardware connectivity components.

While Lava’s extensive experience in hardware interfaces is notable, INTELITY’s user reviews, feature set, and recent feedback strongly favor the platform designed specifically for hospitality. Does your hotel prioritize a ready-to-deploy guest experience solution or specialized hardware components?

Is INTELITY or Lava Better for Hotels?

INTELITY and Lava serve very different roles in the hotel technology ecosystem. INTELITY’s platform aims to enhance guest satisfaction through in-room tablets that control everything from dining to entertainment, while Lava supplies hardware components that enable connectivity and automation systems. If your hotel wants an integrated guest-facing platform with operational tools, INTELITY is the clear choice. Conversely, if you need reliable hardware interfaces for industrial automation, POS, or security systems, Lava’s products are designed for that purpose.

INTELITY’s high review count (43 reviews) and recent ratings—4.5/5 overall, with a 93% likelihood to recommend—confirm its standing as a trusted, widely adopted solution. Lava, with no recent reviews or ratings, remains a niche hardware supplier rather than a direct competitor in the guest experience space. Will you prioritize a full-service guest engagement platform or focus on hardware for operational connectivity?

INTELITY vs Lava: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a scalable, feature-rich platform that enhances guest engagement and operational efficiency, go with INTELITY. Its system supports a wide range of functionalities—like digital menus, guest messaging, in-room controls, and integrations with PMS, POS, and loyalty programs—that directly impact guest satisfaction and revenue.

If your focus is on hardware components for industrial automation, POS systems, or IoT connectivity, Lava's products are the better fit. Lava’s expertise in serial interfaces, Ethernet-to-serial servers, and embedded IoT devices makes it ideal for hotels with complex automation or security needs but not for those seeking a comprehensive guest experience solution.

Is INTELITY or Lava Easier to Use?

INTELITY’s platform scores highly in ease of use, with a 4.65/5 rating based on extensive user feedback and a straightforward onboarding process averaging 4.4/5. Its intuitive interface and content management tools have been praised for simplicity, even by hotels with limited tech experience. Support is rated 4.59/5, with many reviewers highlighting quick and effective assistance.

Lava, on the other hand, primarily offers hardware interfaces that require technical expertise to install and manage. Since Lava's products are not end-user applications but technical hardware components, ease of use is less relevant for hotel staff and more for OEMs or technical teams.

Edge: INTELITY.

Which Has Better Features: INTELITY or Lava?

INTELITY boasts 39 unique features, including welcome pages, streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, PMS and POS integrations, digital directories, in-room dining, and multilingual support. These features directly contribute to guest satisfaction and operational efficiency, making it a comprehensive digital solution.

Lava offers hardware components like Ethernet-to-serial device servers, IoT connectivity devices, and I/O boards but does not provide integrated software features. Therefore, in terms of features relevant to hotel guest experience and management, INTELITY’s platform clearly surpasses Lava.

Edge: INTELITY.

Which Has Better Customer Support: INTELITY or Lava?

INTELITY’s support and onboarding ratings are impressive, at 4.59/5 and 4.4/5 respectively, reflecting strong responsiveness and assistance during implementation. Review quotes commend their proactive support, especially when troubleshooting hardware issues or customizing features.

Lava, as a hardware component supplier, does not have recent reviews or ratings regarding customer support specific to hotels. As such, when it comes to ongoing support for hotel-specific applications, INTELITY’s dedicated customer service is the more reliable choice.

Edge: INTELITY.

Which Has More Integrations: INTELITY or Lava?

INTELITY integrates with over 56 verified partners, including major PMS, POS, and hotel management systems like Innspire, OpenHotel, and Unifocus. This extensive integration capacity enables a seamless guest experience and operational flow across multiple systems.

Lava’s offerings are hardware-centric with no publicly available data on integrations or partner networks. They focus on interfacing technology rather than comprehensive software integrations, making INTELITY the clear leader for hotel software connectivity.

Edge: INTELITY.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: INTELITY or Lava?

INTELITY’s reviews are recent, with a high overall rating of 4.5/5, and 93% of users would recommend it. Hotels across various segments, especially luxury and boutique properties, appreciate its ease of use, feature set, and support.

Lava has no recent reviews or ratings from hoteliers, as its products are primarily hardware components with a different target audience. For guest-facing solutions and software that directly influence guest satisfaction, INTELITY’s high ratings are more relevant.

Edge: INTELITY.

How Much Do INTELITY and Lava Cost?

INTELITY does not publicly disclose its pricing model but offers a license-based system without a free tier or trial. It likely involves a custom quote based on hotel size and feature requirements, reflecting its enterprise-grade solution.

Lava’s hardware prices are not publicly listed either, as they supply components rather than packaged software solutions. Pricing for Lava’s products depends on hardware specifications and quantities, requiring direct contact for quotes.

In summary, both products are not sold through transparent pricing models, emphasizing the importance of direct vendor engagement.

What Type of Hotel Should Use INTELITY?

• Hotels that want to offer a comprehensive digital guest experience, including in-room entertainment, service requests, and personalized content.
• Teams aiming to increase revenue through upselling dining, spa, and local attractions.
• Hotels seeking to reduce operational costs and paper waste with a digital, contactless platform.
• Properties with a focus on automation, integration with existing PMS/POS, and guest satisfaction.
• Not ideal if you are only looking for standalone hardware components or basic in-room devices without a need for software integration.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Lava?

• Hotels or facilities with existing automation systems requiring reliable hardware interfaces for serial, Ethernet, or USB connectivity.
• Properties with in-house technical teams capable of integrating hardware components into larger control systems.
• Hotels focusing on industrial automation, security, or IoT applications that need embedded connectivity solutions.
• Not ideal if your goal is to improve guest experience directly or implement a guest-facing digital platform.

INTELITY vs Lava: The Bottom Line for Hotels

INTELITY offers a feature-rich, user-rated platform with proven results in increasing guest satisfaction, revenue, and operational efficiency. Its extensive integrations, high support ratings, and recent reviews make it the recommended choice for properties seeking a complete in-room guest engagement system.

Lava’s strength lies in its hardware solutions, designed for industrial and operational connectivity rather than guest-facing services. Hotels prioritizing an integrated, easy-to-use guest platform should choose INTELITY.

For most hotels aiming to modernize guest experiences and streamline operations, INTELITY provides a proven, scalable, and well-supported solution. Lava’s products are best suited for properties with specialized hardware needs or internal technical capabilities to manage hardware interfaces.