Why bother with notes and coins when you can pay with the push of a button, a touch or a slide? Okay, you have to pay for tip electronically, maybe (still) a bit far, but in all other cases cash is really gone. Or does cash payment have potential? GuestCompass will find out.

Our observations

The number of electronic payments is increasing every year. Also at hotels. Only a few still pay cash. For example, there are (often older) guests who are suspicious of electronic payment or guests where the home front is not allowed to know about the overnight stay. Or who prefer to use cash because of a limited budget because then they have a better overview of their expenses. Only for that small group can you really let the cash register ring.

Advantages and disadvantages of paying cash

Advantages and disadvantages of paying cash

Cash is actually a hassle. Okay, with banknotes and coins you never suffer from a (power) failure, but otherwise cash is inconvenient. Think of guests who have to change money and ATMs that are closed. Or the greater chance of theft and errors at the checkout. With electronic payment you will not be bothered by this. In addition, it is also faster and guests spend more more easily. Guess what you prefer ;-)?

Our vision

The numbers speak for themselves. In 2019, there were 4.74 billion electronic payments in the Netherlands, 69 percent of which were contactless. More and more hotels are therefore switching to ‘pin only’ and with all the new technology that is also fine. Only the large hotels with many international guests will continue to accept cash. For the rest applies: cash is out, contactless is in.

What trends do we see?

The Netherlands may be the frontrunner, but the number of electronic payments is also increasing (significantly) in other countries. For example, a third of payments in Great Britain are now contactless (2019 figures). It is logical that the number of “cashless” hotels is growing. Especially in Scandinavia, more and more hotels are opting for fully digital.

” Can you still pay with cash in hotels in 2025 ”.

What does our panel say?

Coins and notes will soon no longer be available in hotels, according to a majority of our expert panel. “Cash is becoming less and less popular and most payments are made in advance,” said one of our panel members.

A majority of hotel guests also think that paying cash is no longer necessary in hotels. They do not make any statements about whether they think that is a pity and how they prefer to pay.

Pin, contactless payment: it is no problem for most Dutch guests. As a hotel, you can therefore easily switch to ‘pin-only’. That is safer, easier and – if all goes well – more profitable. Guests can more easily roll their money digitally. So no more hassle with change. Unless you have a lot of international guests. They prefer cash and not “cashless”. At least not yet.

More about our panel

Together with a panel of seven different hotel experts, we explore the hotel amenities of the future. In addition, we asked 482 hotel guests in the Netherlands and Belgium for their opinion about these facilities.