‘Redefining Hospitality in the Digital Age’: Crystal Shell, Founder of Hello Guest Screen

Hello Guest Screen (HGS), a revolutionary solution for property owners, whether you’re an individual host or a large-scale property management company. It simplifies the process of personalizing your property’s screens, making a lasting impression on your guests. The company transforms your Smart TV or device into a personalized welcome hub, ensuring your guests have all the essential information at their fingertips without any hassle.

Picture this: your guests are warmly greeted with all the vital details they need right on the TV screen upon arrival. No more fumbling for Wi-Fi information, activity suggestions, or checkout instructions. Hello Guest Screen is designed to make your guests’ experience smoother and more enjoyable.

In an exclusive interview with CIO Bulletin, Crystal Shell, Founder of Hello Guest Screen, shed light on how her company is making every guest feel special and valued by elevating their experience with simplicity and significance.

Interview Highlights

Q. Can you share the story behind the founding of Hello Guest Screen (HGS)? What inspired the creation of the business and how has the company evolved since its inception?

Drawing from my extensive background in cutting-edge technology, where I’ve supported government operations at the highest clearance levels, and my nine-year journey as an accomplished Airbnb Superhost, I birthed HGS. This revolutionary product empowers individual property owners and even large-scale property management companies to infuse their screens with personalized imagery and guest-specific calendar information. While the only data stored in your subscription account is your images you want others to view, there is no need to be concerned about data breaches. With expertise in technology at the highest sensitivity levels and a flawless record of 24 years without a data breach, I demonstrate my proficiency in ensuring the security of all information.

But beyond the corporate success, my passion has always been rooted in hospitality and going the extra mile for others. I hold the belief that God has placed us here for the purpose to serve others in any possible way, improving someone’s life, livelihood, heart, and/or feelings each day. If this product assists property hosts/managers succeed in making their guests feel special, then that is a mutually beneficial outcome.

Q. Could you provide an overview of the products and services that Hello Guest Screen offers to its clientele?

We’ve successfully implemented the residential aspect, catering to short-term rental hosts, property managers, and real estate managers, among others. The standout feature of HGS is its ability to display video insets, showcasing your town or a personalized host message, enriching the guest’s stay. Pre-loaded videos for major cities, with historical and event highlights, are readily available. Alternatively, simply copy and paste your favorite YouTube link – whether it’s a personal message, brand promotion, or your own MP4 video.

The applications for HGS are limitless. Currently, we’re in the process of refining the business side to meet the growing demand from businesses looking to showcase their achievements, events, promotions, and more. We’ve already garnered interest from major aerospace companies in displaying at their conferences and exhibits.

Q. How does Hello Guest Screen allow property owners to personalize their property’s screens? Can you elaborate on the customization options available?

Setting up an HGS screen is a breeze, taking less than ten minutes. Its magic lies in enhancing the guest’s experience by instantly providing vital information as soon as they turn on the TV upon arrival. There is a basic checklist with eight items: 1) standard checkin/checkout times, 2) zip code to display 5-day forecast in your area, 3) your cover photo for your property from your platform, 4) logo of your brand or profile picture, 5) Greeting – you can create your own or choose from three default messages 6) wifi info, 7) a hyperlink to stream an instructional video, your city’s YouTube link, or upload your own video to stream and 8) lastly if you choose you can include a QR code (which is automatically generated for you when you input the site link). All takes less than five minutes to populate.

Q. The mention of dynamic calendar-driven guest information is intriguing. Can you explain how this feature works and its benefits for both hosts and guests?

All your future guests can be entered into your account via cell or PC with check-in and check-out dates on a schedule within your account. You only need to populate guest names and check-in/checkout dates to automatically generate the message for your guest’s arrival. So, you don’t have to worry about it; it will hold as many reservations as you have.

Q. In what ways does Hello Guest Screen enhance the guest experience? How does it eliminate common hassles like searching for Wi-Fi information, activity suggestions, or checkout instructions?

The Hello Guest Screen significantly enhances the guest experience by consolidating essential information onto a single screen, eliminating common hassles such as searching for Wi-Fi details, activity suggestions, and checkout instructions. Guests no longer need to spend valuable time hunting for Wi-Fi information or crawling on the floor to capture a clear picture of the modem label. Instead, all the necessary information is conveniently displayed on the screen.

Additionally, the Hello Guest Screen addresses the issue of guests forgetting checkout times by prominently displaying this information. This feature ensures that guests are well-informed and can plan their departure accordingly, minimizing any potential confusion or inconvenience.

I have had guests tell me that they spent several minutes locating the modem, only to crawl on the floor in an effort to capture a clear picture of the Wi-Fi password on the modem label. Additionally, while working on this project, I have had friends send me pictures of index cards taped to tables and stained instruction booklets.

Q. How does Hello Guest Screen manage to provide a great guest experience while keeping the pricing affordable?

My message to potential customers is simple: give it a try with our 14-day free trial, and your guests will love it. We boast a 100% retention rate. It’s the kind of product you won’t want to go without, and at a cost of less than 50 cents per day, why not give it a try?

Q. How easy is it for property owners to integrate Hello Guest Screen into their existing systems? Is it compatible with various types of TVs and property management setups?

No integration needed. Just download the HGS App as you would with Netflix and activate the code. Everything else can be managed and modified from your desktop or cell phone without ever needing to return to the property. It works on all Smart TVs with the Amazon App Store or Google Play Store. If you have an LG TV, you can also use a Firestick or Google Chromecast Device.

Q. Could you share some notable testimonials or success stories from clients who have benefited from Hello Guest Screen’s services?

A property manager who took part in the beta testing and owns a property shared their experience: “Setting up the screen was a breeze. The layout looks professional, and I got it done in about 20 minutes. I skipped the checklist and wasn’t ready with my photo or logo, but the rest was straightforward property info.”

Solving Setup Hassles

Setting up screens can be a hassle, but Hello Guest Screen makes it easy, even for those without tech skills. With Hello Guest Screen, the property manager got a professional-looking screen that impressed guests. It saved time and effort during setup.

Guests Love It

Guests loved the screen so much that they asked how to get it for their events. One guest even left a review saying they never changed the setup, preferring it over regular TV. Hello Guest Screen made a lasting impact on the guest experience.

I’ve received numerous compliments through text messages when guests arrive at our properties, with many asking how they can get this for their own use, such as for graduations or family reunions. One guest even left a review stating that the setup was so beautiful that they never changed it, meaning they never watched regular TV.

Q. Are there any upcoming features or developments in the pipeline for Hello Guest Screen?

It’s quite amusing because during our two-year development, we primarily tailored the product to cater to Short Term Rental Superhosts, Hosts, Property Managers, and Owners. Unexpectedly, we’ve been flooded with inquiries from various businesses eager to utilize our screen. Boeing is interested for their conference requirements, car dealerships seek it for their showrooms, restaurants want it for their outdoor spaces to attract customers, wedding planners are keen on incorporating it into their services for wedding parties, and even real estate developers have shown interest. While we have already developed the business format, we now need to make some adjustments for the business portal. This portal will encompass three modules: Informative, Event, and Occasion.

Q. How do you plan to evolve the platform to meet the changing needs of property owners?

We are currently in discussions with tourism boards in multiple cities to facilitate property owners in receiving compensation from restaurants and attractions for featuring advertisements within their properties. In the context of short-term rentals, where each property typically accommodates two to three different groups per week, guests often rely on the host’s recommendations. This creates a unique scenario compared to traditional yearly vacations, where individuals may encounter ads sporadically. Here, we have a direct referral opportunity two to three times a week.

Instead of providing guests with a 10% discount, an alternative approach could involve splitting the discount and offering 5% to the referring home, with tracking managed through our proprietary HGS screen. Unfortunately, I cannot divulge more details at this time, as it involves proprietary information.

Q. What is your final message to CIO Bulletin readers, as well as your current and future clients/customers?

I feel honored to be featured on the cover during Women’s History Month. I want our readers to understand that we are a philanthropic company with a mission that goes beyond assisting Short Term Rental (STR) owners, hosts, and their guests. A portion of every subscription contributes to charities dedicated to communities and missions.

Our fundamental goal is to make every individual feel special, embodying the essence of personally greeting guests by name and acknowledging special occasions. Similar to the personal touch of a restaurant owner visiting a table, we aim for your guests to have a new and refreshing first impression when they enter your property.

At the core of our values is quality control. We strive to ensure our subscribers can effortlessly tailor and customize messages for their guests, guaranteeing a personalized and memorable experience. Despite its intricate design, crafting your screen is remarkably simple. The positive feedback from our beta testers assures us that this product will consistently ‘Wow’ every guest.

Crystal Shell | Founder

Crystal Shell, a visionary entrepreneur with over two decades of leadership in the technology industry, has seamlessly navigated her company to unparalleled success. Beyond the boardroom, her heart beats for hospitality, consistently going the extra mile for others. Rooted in the belief that we are here to serve and improve lives daily, she finds purpose in touching hearts and elevating the human experience.

Crystal's commitment to making guests feel special aligns with her broader philosophy of mutual benefit. She holds the belief that when property hosts and managers succeed in creating memorable experiences, it becomes a win-win situation for all involved. Her unique fusion of technological acumen and a deep passion for hospitality recently earned her the prestigious CIO Bulletin’s ‘Innovation Excellence Award for 2024’.

Armed with a Master of Science in Management (M.S.M.) degree in Business Management, Crystal is not just a seasoned professional but also fluent in Spanish. Her journey is a testament to the synergy between corporate success and a heartfelt dedication to enhancing the lives of others.

“More than a product – Hello Guest Screen is a philanthropic endeavor, contributing to communities and missions while enhancing the guest experience. Try it with our 14-day free trial and join the 100% retention rate!”

“With a 100% retention rate, Hello Guest Screen is a must-try for property owners, providing a seamless, affordable, and personalized solution for enhancing the guest experience.”

“I hold the belief that God has placed us here for the purpose to serve others in any possible way, improving someone’s life, livelihood, heart, and/or feelings each day. If this product assists property hosts/managers succeed in making their guests feel special, then that is a mutually beneficial outcome.”