For many attractions, the "pre-visit" phase is a missed opportunity; a quiet gap between purchasing tickets and the guests’ arrival where excitement can either build or fizzle out thanks to logistical stress and slow communications.
A mobile app platform like Attractions.io helps guests move smoothly from intent to purchase, and from purchase to feeling prepared for their experience. When booking and planning are connected in one place, the pre-visit journey becomes simpler and more reassuring.
The booking process is the first "test" of your guest experience. There is a specific kind of frustration that happens when a guest is ready to commit, only to be met with a clunky, non-responsive mobile website.
By integrating booking directly into a native mobile app, attractions can leverage native payments via Apple Pay and Google Pay. Native payments streamline the checkout process, enabling guests to secure their tickets in seconds and store their details for future on-site purchases, making the process even faster. Even better: according to our platform data, optimised native checkouts convert at nearly 3x the rate of traditional web-based mobile checkouts.
After booking, guests want reassurance. With our Mobile Wallet, guests can store tickets, passes, and documents directly in the app. Tickets are ready to scan and go, without searching through confirmation emails or downloading attachments. For group organisers in particular, having everything in one place reduces stress and last-minute uncertainty.
And because tickets live in the same app that supports planning and navigation, booking feels like the first step of the visit, not a disconnected transaction.
Choice paralysis is real. When a guest faces a massive site, such as those operated by our customers Six Flags and Chester Zoo, the sheer volume of options can be overwhelming. An interactive Day Planner can transform their experience.
With itinerary and activity planning, guests can create a personalised plan before they arrive, tailored to their specific needs and interests. They can add information such as their age, height, or preferences, and the planner uses this to suggest relevant activities while filtering out those that are unsuitable.
This is especially valuable for first-time visitors and for guests with specific preferences or access requirements. Instead of a generic list of attractions, guests receive practical suggestions they can actually enjoy.
Before launching its mobile app, many guests at Butlin’s spent the first day of their break booking activities. Today, guests arrive ready to enjoy their stay, with 98% of pre-booked activities now made through the app.
“70% of our guests told us they wanted to book activities further in advance using the mobile app. The Attractions.io platform has made that wish a reality. We’re now looking to extend the booking window so guests can plan their trip even earlier" – Jacqui French, Digital Product Manager, Apps at Butlin's
Pre-visit planning benefits every guest. But for those with access needs, it is essential.
Access needs are broad and varied. They include mobility, sensory sensitivities, medical needs, and the need for predictability. For these guests, uncertainty can be the biggest barrier to visiting at all. 43% of guests with access needs report that they often don’t receive clear information about access at a venue, which makes them hesitant to book.
Attractions.io offers a comprehensive accessibility toolkit that goes far beyond an online accessibility policy. While accessible wayfinding allows guests to plan step-free routes that avoid stairs or uneven terrain, the app also helps manage essential practical requirements that are often a source of pre-visit stress. Before leaving home, guests can:
“The app was great. I downloaded it in advance to plan the day. We added the tickets and people in our group along, so it suggested which activities are suitable for them” – Verified 5* Guest Review from Legoland Windsor
The pre-visit stage is often when guests decide whether upgrades or add-ons are worth it. Those decisions are easier when the options feel relevant.
Instead of showing everything to everyone, a mobile app helps guests choose what is right for them. By using information guests provide during booking, such as visit date, party type, or interests, the app can surface the most appropriate add-ons at the right moment.
This personalised pre-visit content cuts through the noise. A family visiting with young children may see different recommendations to a group of thrill-seekers. This makes the upgrade feel tailored rather than generic.
The days leading up to a visit are the peak of emotional investment. A mobile app allows you to fuel that fire with targeted, high-value content that builds anticipation through push notifications. Instead of waiting for the guest to arrive to tell your story, you can bring the park to them:
.jpg)
A strong pre-visit strategy answers the silent questions every guest asks themselves before they leave the house:
A mobile app platform shifts the guest experience from “figure it out when you arrive” to “arrive with a plan.” By addressing logistical hurdles early, you free your guests to focus on what matters most: making memories with their loved ones.
