According to the Department of Tourism, South Africa welcomed more than 10,5 million tourists in 2025. In the first four months of 2026, another 3,9 million international visitors touched down in Mzansi. For hospitality businesses, that’s a wave of guests expecting bookings, check-ins, payments, WiFi and service calls to work first time. A recent Nomadix survey found that fast, reliable, secure and free WiFi was the number-one factor influencing guests’ hotel choices.

The hospitality sector includes hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, restaurants, resorts, lodges, conference venues, event spaces and businesses built around welcoming, feeding and hosting people.

Start with what guests notice first: connectivity

In hospitality, WiFi isn’t a perk – it’s part of operations. Guests use it to book, check in, stream, work, review and pay. Teams use the internet for reservations, stock ordering, POS machines, card machines, delivery platforms, scheduling, security cameras and admin, so good connectivity is central to the tech plan.

Telkom Business Fibre can support fixed sites that need steady bandwidth, while LTE or mobile data packages are ideal for pop-up bars, backup, food trucks, mobile managers, and properties where fibre isn’t yet available, especially in remote settings.

Make your phone system feel more like a service

The hospitality industry still runs on calls – about anything from weddings and group bookings to supplier-chasing, room service, lost property and the eternal “Do you have availability this weekend?” questions. And they all need to reach the right person quickly.

A PABX system gives a business extensions, call routing and an auto-attendant option for after-hours calls. Telkom Business offers both PABX Cloud and on-premises PABX options, because not all properties work the same way. A boutique hotel may prefer cloud-based tools, while a large lodge, resort or venue with legacy wiring, multiple sites and department extensions may still need on-site infrastructure.

The decision isn’t a glamorous one, but it can make the front desk calmer. Ask: how many extensions do you need, should managers take calls remotely, do you need voicemail-to-email, and does your connection support VoIP?

Use IoT solutions to free up service capacity

IoT solutions can sound like a sales pitch from a guy in a shiny jacket, but in hospitality, they’re useful when they watch the things humans shouldn’t have to chase all day.

Telkom Business IoT solutions include options for the remote management of facilities, assets, security, people and utilities. For hotels, guest houses, restaurants and venues, that can mean real-time visibility across spaces, equipment and operations. Think temperature monitoring, asset tracking, movement alerts, access control and data that help managers spot patterns early.

The rule is simple: Don’t buy business tech because it sounds clever – buy it to solve a recurring problem, deal with a measurable cost, or fix a service issue that keeps coming back.

Treat funding as a growth tool

For small to medium-sized hospitality businesses without large group backing, growth or site improvements can need a cash injection. Replacing devices, refreshing guest WiFi, installing a switchboard, adding security and new equipment all cost money, and funding can be difficult when upgrades need to happen before peak season.

Telkom Lend offers South African SMEs working capital of R50 000 up to R5 million, with a digital application process and no collateral required. Qualifying businesses need to be registered, have been operating for at least six months, have a good credit record, and generate at least R50 000 in monthly revenue.

Build the tech stack around service

The best hospitality tech stack helps guests book easily, arrive calmly, connect quickly, reach staff fast, and leave with reasons to come back. Start with fibre or LTE connectivity. Add the PABX or VoIP set-up that matches your operation, layer in IoT solutions where they solve headaches, and use Telkom Lend when timing and cash flow block the basics.

Hospitality involves a host of moving parts. The right tech helps keep everything running smoothly.