Highland Lodge hotel has turned their check-in process into a competitive advantage

At Highland Lodge Hotel in Geilo, flexibility at the front desk is not just a nice‑to‑have feature, it’s how the hotel operates. With a mix of hotel rooms and apartments spread across six buildings, it consists of 212 private apartments where 101 are rented out through the hotel. Ranging from double rooms to four‑bedroom apartments, traditional reception workflows simply wouldn’t scale.

That’s where Convene Hospitality stepped in.

No reception desk. No bottlenecks. No problem.

Instead of running a traditional front desk, Highland Lodge chose to rethink the entire guest arrival experience. With self‑service check‑in kiosks from Convene Hospitality, the hotel moved check‑in and check‑out to where it belongs: fast, flexible, and guest‑driven. The hotel started with two kiosks and quickly added a third as demand grew.

“We don’t have a traditional reception desk anymore. The kiosks allow our team to focus on service instead of administration.” – Marta Kass-Haugerud, Hotel Manager at Highland Lodge

Highland Lodge hotel at a glance

• Started with two self check-in kiosks and expanded to three
• Hotel rooms and apartments are spread across six buildings, with 212 private apartments where 101 are rented out through the hotel
• Removed all manual reception work after kiosks proved effective 
• Result: smoother guest experience, scalable for their hotel business model, happier staff and better reviews 

Better hotel service, less manual admin tasks

By letting Convene Hospitality kiosks take care of arrivals and departures, staff time is used where it creates the most value: with guests. For a hotel like Highland Lodge that is a seasonal mountain destination, this efficiency also makes a real financial difference.

“The kiosks have helped us use our time more efficiently. Instead of check‑ins and check‑outs, our staff can focus on service.. It helps us operate smarter during busy periods — and stay efficient during quieter ones.” – Marta Kass-Haugerud

Installing 3 self-service kiosks – with efficiency in mind

Highland Lodge hotel has now started with 3 self-service kiosks and have reported this has reduced their check-in and check-out queues substantially.

The effect of installing Convene kiosks installation was immediate and they are very happy with a guest experience that matches modern expectations. With fewer queues and smoother arrivals, lobby efficiency improved, and the front desk became calmer and more manageable during peak times.  

“Guests today want fast and flexible solutions — and Convene is a perfect fit for that.”

A smooth partnership with Convene Hospitality

The hotel manager also reports that from the very beginning, the collaboration with Convene Hospitality was smooth, fast, and tailored to Highland Lodge’s needs.

“From the moment we decided to work with them, it has been a very smooth and fast process.”“They set everything up exactly the way we wanted it and were very supportive and helpful throughout the whole process.” – Marta Kass-Haugerud

Smart hotel tech for a modern mountain hotel

With its central location in Geilo, easy access to skiing and outdoor activities, and a hospitality concept built around flexibility, Highland Lodge Hotel shows how self-serviced check-in kiosks can transform hotel operations – without sacrificing warmth, service, or personality.

Less friction. More freedom. Better hospitality.

What convinced the staff was notjust shorter queues. It was guest behaviour. As the solution settled into day-to-day operations, Highland Lodge Hotel staff noticed something you don’t often see with operational tech: guests chose it. As time went on – the hotel has now no reception and rely on the self-service kiosks completely.