Hotel Director is about running hotels, not tapping on them. Each turn is one week. You read the weekly report, make your decisions, and end the week when you're ready. Nothing interrupts you: there are no ads of any kind, no energy bars and no timers.
What you manage
| Area | What you decide |
|---|---|
| Pricing | The nightly rate for every hotel, against the market |
| Staff | Receptionists, housekeepers, maintenance techs, concierges, chefs and heads of department; hiring, training and pay |
| The building | Repairs, breakdowns, insurance, the fire certificate, energy upgrades |
| Rooms and stars | Renovating to better room tiers, and upgrading from two stars to five |
| Facilities | From Free Wi-Fi and blackout blinds to a restaurant, spa or rooftop bar |
| Marketing | Campaigns and online booking channels |
| Money | Leases, mortgages, business loans, refinancing and corporation tax |
| Growth | Buying and leasing hotels across the city, and buying out rivals |
Every number is real
A hotel's week is a real profit and loss account: room revenue and restaurant takings, then wages, overheads, maintenance, energy, business rates, rent or mortgage, and insurance. Corporation tax arrives at the end of the year.
That makes it a game of judgement. Cut the price and you fill more rooms, but each earns less. Skip the maintenance tech and the boiler breaks. Borrow to grow and one bad month can put you three weeks in the red, which ends the game.
London, district by district
You start in outer London, in districts like Stratford and Croydon, and work your way in through Shoreditch and Camden to Covent Garden, then Mayfair and Knightsbridge. Each district has its own demand, its own seasons and its own rival hotels. Four rival groups compete with you across the city, and you can buy them out when they stumble.
The city has a calendar of its own: Fashion Week, the London Marathon, the summer rush and the Christmas shopping season. Transport strikes, energy crises, recessions and travel booms come and go.
Why turn-based
Turn-based means you can take as long as you like over a decision. Nothing happens while you're thinking, and nothing happens while the app is closed. It also means Hotel Director plays perfectly offline: it never needs the internet, and your saves stay on your phone.
Free to play in London
Hotel Director is free to download, and London plays in full with no time limit. More cities and extra features are optional purchases; see what's free in Hotel Director. There are never any ads.
It's for iPhone, and needs iOS 26 or later.
Frequently asked
Is there a goal? It's an open-ended sandbox. You track your progress by net worth, brand tier and your place on the city's leaderboard against the rival groups.
Is it hard? You choose: Easy starts you with £1.2 million, Normal with £600,000 and Hard with £300,000. The beginner's guide gets you through your first hotel.
How do I price my rooms? Usually above the market rate, once the hotel is in good shape. Read how to set room rates.