From Two SEPARATE Apps to One Guest-First Experience

FROM TWO SEPARATE APPS TO ONE GUEST-FIRST EXPERIENCE

  • 2025

  • HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

  • CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

  • 16K DAILY USER INTERACTIONS

  • NEW CODEBASE BUILT IN UNDER 4 MONTHS

  • AVAILABLE ACROSS 19 SANDALS & BEACHES PROPERTIES IN 9 COUNTRIES

  • 2025

  • HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

  • CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

  • 16K DAILY USER INTERACTIONS

  • NEW CODEBASE BUILT IN UNDER 4 MONTHS

  • AVAILABLE ACROSS 19 SANDALS & BEACHES PROPERTIES IN 9 COUNTRIES

  • 2025

  • HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

  • CUSTOM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

  • 16K DAILY USER INTERACTIONS

  • NEW CODEBASE BUILT IN UNDER 4 MONTHS

  • AVAILABLE ACROSS 19 SANDALS & BEACHES PROPERTIES IN 9 COUNTRIES

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Travel starts long before check-in, from the first scroll on a resort’s site to navigating its app.

And if hospitality is all about feeling cared for from the start, Sandals sets the standard in the Caribbean.

Travel starts long before check-in, from the first scroll on a resort’s site to navigating its app.

And if hospitality is all about feeling cared for from the start, Sandals sets the standard in the Caribbean.

PREVIOUS APP COMPONENTS

PREVIOUS APP COMPONENTS

Yet, behind the guest experience, the team was running two apps - one for iOS, one for Android. Twice the work for every update and feature.

And with a recent rebrand, the UI had to catch up to the brand’s fresh identity.

Yet, behind the guest experience, the team was running two apps - one for iOS, one for Android. Twice the work for every update and feature.

And with a recent rebrand, the UI had to catch up to the brand’s fresh identity.

FROM IDEATION TO PRODUCT

FROM IDEATION TO PRODUCT

That's where we came in. To truly understand the problem and the guest journey, Sandals invited us to spend three days at their Montego Bay Resort, in Jamaica.

That's where we came in. To truly understand the problem and the guest journey, Sandals invited us to spend three days at their Montego Bay Resort, in Jamaica.

We visited Sandals and came up with the solution: migrate both apps into a single React Native product with an improved UX/UI that reflected the brand's new visual identity.

We visited Sandals and came up with the solution: migrate both apps into a single React Native product with an improved UX/UI that reflected the brand's new visual identity.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

New Login

The old version of the app featured a static login screen, which we updated with a more dynamic splash video.

The old app offered limited sign-in options and the old brand look & feel.

New Login


The old version of the app featured a static login screen, which we updated with a more dynamic splash video.

New Login


The old version of the app featured a static login screen, which we updated with a more dynamic splash video.

The old app offered limited sign-in options and the old brand look & feel.

Guests can now choose their preferred sign-in method, via user and password, or via OTP: a one‑time password code sent to the guest’s email.

Guests can now choose their preferred sign-in method, via user and password, or via OTP: a one‑time password code sent to the guest’s email.

Less time at the front desk, more time enjoying the holidays


On the previous app, the check-in process was outdated and not as intuitive as it could be.

The rebuilt feature helps guests check‑in from 30 days before the trip, add their personal & flight information, and quickly purchase in-resort extras by adding card information.

Less time at the front desk, more time enjoying the holidays


On the previous app, the check-in process was outdated and not as intuitive as it could be.

The rebuilt feature helps guests check‑in from 30 days before the trip,
add their personal & flight information, and quickly purchase in-resort extras by adding card information.


Phased Release


With thousands of daily users, the release had to be strategically planned to minimize risk.

Instead of pushing the update to all users at once, we started with a small segment of users and gradually increased the percentage.

This let us track performance, gather feedback in real time, and address potential issues early.

Phased Release


With thousands of daily users, the release had to be strategically planned to minimize risk.

Instead of pushing the update to all users at once, we started with a small segment of users and gradually increased the percentage.


This let us track performance, gather feedback in real time, and address potential issues early.


NEW APP COMPONENTS

NEW APP COMPONENTS

THE APPROACH

MARCH

Product Discovery

Our leadership team, Pablo (CEO & Co‑founder) and Santi (COO & Co‑founder), visited Montego Bay to conduct on-site guest & employee interviews and test the app as real resort guests.

JUNE - JULY

App Development

We built and integrated key functionalities, all coded in React Native for both iOS and Android

  • In-app check-in

  • Customizable Daily Planner

  • Vacation Add-ons

  • Chat with Gina (Virtual Assistant)

  • Restaurant reservations

JULY - MID AUGUST

Testing & Enhancement

After User Acceptance Testing (UAT), we refined the app based on real guest feedback, fixed bugs, and polished the overall experience.

JULY - MID AUGUST

Testing & Enhancement

After User Acceptance Testing (UAT), we refined the app based on real guest feedback, fixed bugs, and polished the overall experience.

MID AUGUST - SEPTEMBER

Release & Post-Release Enhancement

We opted for a phased release: start with a small user segment, monitor real-time bugs, fix fast, and gradually increase traffic. This approach minimized risk and ensured that by the time we reached 100% of users, the app's experience was already solid.

THE TEAM

Technical Leader / Front-end

MARTINA MATTIOLI

Technical Leader / Front-end

MARTINA MATTIOLI

Technical Leader / Front-end

MARTINA MATTIOLI

Technical Leader / Front-end

MARTINA MATTIOLI

Developer / Front-end

LEONEL SUAREZ

Developer / Front-end

LEONEL SUAREZ

Developer / Front-end

LEONEL SUAREZ

Developer / Front-end

LEONEL SUAREZ

Meet our amazing team who turns ideas into powerful digital solutions

Meet our amazing team who turns ideas into powerful digital solutions

Developer / Front-end

SANTIAGO ALE MARINO

Developer / Front-end

SANTIAGO ALE MARINO

Developer / Front-end

SANTIAGO ALE MARINO

Developer / Front-end

SANTIAGO ALE MARINO

Technical Leader / Back-end

ALEJANDRO PUTRINO BISCAYART

Technical Leader / Back-end

ALEJANDRO PUTRINO BISCAYART

Technical Leader / Back-end

ALEJANDRO PUTRINO BISCAYART

Technical Leader / Back-end

ALEJANDRO PUTRINO BISCAYART

Project Leader

SANTIAGO NUCERA

Project Leader

SANTIAGO NUCERA

Project Leader

SANTIAGO NUCERA

Project Leader

SANTIAGO NUCERA

Developer / Back-end

JULIÁN VIDAL

Developer / Back-end

JULIÁN VIDAL

Developer / Back-end

JULIÁN VIDAL

Developer / Back-end

JULIÁN VIDAL

Developer / Back-end

MANUEL GOMEZ

Developer / Back-end

MANUEL GOMEZ

Developer / Back-end

MANUEL GOMEZ

Developer / Back-end

MANUEL GOMEZ

RESULTS

RESULTS

Powering 16k daily user interactions

Powering 16k daily user interactions

Powering 16k daily user interactions

Powering 16k daily user interactions

New codebase built in under 4 months

New codebase built in under 4 months

New codebase built in under 4 months

New codebase built in under 4 months

Unified, multi-brand release for 19 properties, in 9 countries

Unified, multi-brand release for 19 properties, in 9 countries

Unified, multi-brand release for 19 properties, in 9 countries

Unified, multi-brand release for 19 properties, in 9 countries

Copyright © 2024 Zerf | All Rights Reserved

Top Software Developers -

Hospitality & Leisure 2025

Copyright © 2024 Zerf | All Rights Reserved

Top Software Developers -

Hospitality & Leisure 2025

Top Software Developers -

Hospitality & Leisure 2025

Copyright © 2024 Zerf | All Rights Reserved

Top Software Developers -

Hospitality & Leisure 2025

Copyright © 2024 Zerf | All Rights Reserved

YOUR TECH PARTNER

IN HOSPITALITY & TRAVEL

Copyright © 2024 Zerf | All Rights Reserved

Top Software Developers -

Hospitality & Leisure 2025

Top Software Developers -

Hospitality & Leisure 2025

Copyright © 2024 Zerf | All Rights Reserved

Top Software Developers -

Hospitality & Leisure 2025

Copyright © 2024 Zerf | All Rights Reserved

THE APPROACH

MARCH

Product discovery

Our leadership team, Pablo (CEO & Co‑founder) and Santi (COO & Co‑founder), visited Montego Bay to conduct on-site guest & employee interviews and test the app as real resort guests.

JUNE - JULY

App development

We built and integrated key functionalities, all coded in React Native for both iOS and Android

  • In-app check-in

  • Customizable Daily Planner

  • Vacation Add-ons

  • Chat with Gina (Virtual Assistant)

  • Restaurant reservations

JULY - MID AUGUST

Testing & Enhancement

After User Acceptance Testing (UAT), we refined the app based on real guest feedback, fixed bugs, and polished the overall experience.

MID AUGUST - SEPTEMBER

Release & Post-Release Enhancement

We opted for a phased release: start with a small user segment, monitor real-time bugs, fix fast, and gradually increase traffic. This approach minimized risk and ensured that by the time we reached 100% of users, the app's experience was already solid.