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As peak season approaches, most operators focus on marketing, staffing, and availability.
But the guest journey starts much earlier than that.
Waivers and check-ins are often the first real touchpoints guests have with your business. If those steps feel slow, confusing, or disorganised, it creates friction before the experience even begins.
In 2026, how you handle waivers and check-ins plays a bigger role than ever in shaping first impressions, staff workload, and guest satisfaction.
This checklist will help you pressure test your current setup and focus on a few high-impact improvements before bookings ramp up.
What peak readiness looks like in 2026
A guest books online, receives their waiver automatically, and completes it on their phone in under two minutes. They arrive already checked in—no paperwork, no queues, no bottlenecks. Your team can instantly see who’s on site, manage groups effortlessly, and follow up after the experience with a simple review or rebooking link. The result: faster check-ins, calmer staff, and a smoother day from start to finish.
The 2026 Guest Journey Checklist
You do not need to change everything at once. Work through each stage and note what is already working and where small changes could make a big difference.
Before Arrival
The goal here is simple. Remove friction before guests show up.
- Waivers are fully digital and mobile-friendly
- Waiver links are sent automatically after booking
- Guests can complete waivers on any device
- Branding matches your website and business
- You can clearly see who has completed their waiver before arrival
Operators using digital waivers with pre-arrival delivery regularly see over 90% of waivers completed before guests arrive. That means fewer delays, fewer questions, and far less pressure at check-in.
Arrival and Check In
This is where first impressions really form.
- No paper waivers or clipboards
- Staff can instantly see completed waivers
- Search by name or booking reference
- Simple handling of groups, families, and minors
- Optional QR code or kiosk for walk-ins
When check-in is fast, everything else runs more smoothly. Many operators reduce on-site check-in time from around 30 minutes to just a few minutes once paperwork is removed. Guests feel looked after, and your team stays focused on running the experience.
On-Site Experience
Once guests are checked in, your systems should be doing the heavy lifting.
- Guest details stored in one place
- No retyping or double handling
- Consent captured for follow-up
- Staff spending time with guests, not admin
Clean guest data reduces mistakes and saves time. It also sets you up for what comes next.
After the Experience
This is where a lot of growth gets left on the table.
- Automated review requests
- Ability to target specific guest groups
- Rebooking or upsell follow-ups
- Open and click tracking
Most operators do nothing once the tour ends. A simple automated follow-up can make a huge difference. Operators who consistently request reviews often see three times more Google and TripAdvisor reviews than those who don’t.
A quick readiness check
Read through the points below and note where you feel confident and where things could improve.
- Guests complete waivers before arrival
- Check-in is fast and simple
- No paper waivers on site
- Reviews are requested automatically
- Guest data is actually used for marketing
If most of these feel solid, you’re in a good position for peak. If a few feel shaky, those are the best places to start.
Common Things Worth Fixing
These issues tend to create the biggest headaches once things get busy.
- Still relying on paper waivers
- Waivers completed only at check in
- Guest contact details not captured cleanly
- No automated follow up after the experience
- Tools that don’t share guest data
They may feel manageable now, but peak season amplifies every gap.
If You Do One Thing First
If time is tight, focus here.
- Move waivers fully digital
- Enable waivers to be completed before arrival
- Turn on automated review requests
These are usually the fastest wins with the biggest impact.
How Wherewolf Fits
Wherewolf helps operators remove friction at every stage of the guest journey.
Guests complete waivers before arrival, check in quickly on site, and receive automated follow ups after their experience.
Operators use Wherewolf to:
- Get over 90% of waivers signed before arrival
- Reduce on-site check-in time during peak periods
- Capture clean, usable guest data
- Drive more reviews and repeat bookings through automated follow-up
Every form, screen, and message stays branded to your business, so the experience feels intentional from booking to post-visit.
Get Peak Ready
Peak season will arrive whether your systems are ready or not.
A few smart improvements now can remove pressure later, protect staff time, and give guests a better first impression.
Run a quick guest journey health check or see how your current waiver and check in flow stacks up for 2026.
See Wherewolf in Action
Book a no-obligation demo or sign up for free.