Setup guide · Updated October 25, 2026

Raspberry Pi welcome screen for a vacation rental

By GuestsBoard

A Raspberry Pi welcome screen is a small computer connected to a display that shows information for your guests. GuestsBoard uses that setup for a personal welcome, Wi-Fi details, house instructions, local recommendations, and checkout information. You manage the property content in the host dashboard.

Can I use an older non-smart TV?

Yes, if it has an available HDMI input. The Pi runs GuestsBoard and connects to the internet over your property Wi-Fi; the TV simply displays the guide. You can reuse that screen without relying on built-in smart-TV apps. The same hardware also works with a smart TV’s HDMI input. Keep the display powered on and the correct input selected.

What do I need?

The $499 TV bundle supplies the preconfigured Pi device; you provide an HDMI display and property Wi-Fi. The $49 SD Card Kit is for hosts supplying a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5, a display, suitable power, and cables. Check your complete setup before ordering. A regular TV does not become a touchscreen: interactive navigation needs compatible input hardware.

The $499 TV bundle includes the configured kit and the first year for one property from paid checkout. It has no free trial and renews at $205.20/property/year for the first 3 properties without a new kit, using graduated annual pricing. The SD kit has a separate monthly or annual subscription after a 30-day trial from checkout. Graduated monthly rates are $19 each for the first 3 properties, $15 each for properties 4–15, and $12 each for properties 16+. Annual billing saves 10%. Both options include all current guest-guide features and AI concierge, subject to existing usage limits. Up to five paired displays can share one property subscription across Pi, iOS, and Android, with one pooled AI allowance. Offline paired displays still count; guest QR phones and host dashboard access do not. Review display slots and additional hardware; contact us for more than five displays.

Why use a separate guest display?

A dedicated display keeps house information visible without asking guests to find an email or download an app. You choose the guide’s content and available theme to fit the property. Put the most useful information where guests will notice it: a readable welcome, clear Wi-Fi instructions, and an easy route to the rest of the house guide.

Using the main TV is also an option, but GuestsBoard is visible only while the display is powered on and its HDMI input is selected. Guests can switch to other inputs or streaming apps. Choose a separate screen if keeping the guide visible matters more than sharing the entertainment TV.

Does the welcome screen work without internet?

Previously cached property information can remain visible on the Pi display. That is a limited offline capability, not a promise that every image, link, update, or guest service works without internet. New information needs connectivity, and the included AI concierge needs internet for answers.

Test your actual guide after setup: disconnect the internet, check the essential information, reconnect, and confirm fresh content arrives. Also test a restart and the selected TV input. These checks reveal what your guests would see during an interruption.

Should I buy a kit or use my own Pi?

The TV kit suits hosts who want a preconfigured device. The SD kit suits hosts who already have compatible equipment and are comfortable assembling it. Hardware ownership still comes with a software subscription; buying a Pi does not make the GuestsBoard service free.

If your priority is streaming-app control or a native app on an existing smart TV, compare those requirements separately. Read the STR TV comparison and WelcomeScreen comparison before choosing equipment.