Stampede launches SNAPguard for hospitality guest Wi-Fi

Stampede has launched SNAPguard, a guest Wi-Fi product for hospitality operators aimed at hotels, bars and restaurants.

SNAPguard is designed to address recurring venue Wi-Fi problems, including unreliable connections, slow guest logins and weak data capture. It combines an on-site network gateway with a cloud-based network layer to manage device authentication and connectivity.

Most users can be authorised in under one second, including during busy periods, according to Stampede. The product also feeds guest information directly into a customer relationship management system, allowing operators to link Wi-Fi access with marketing and repeat engagement.

Managed Setup

SNAPguard is supplied on preconfigured Mikrotik hardware that is ready for on-site installation, according to the company. The device sits between the guest Wi-Fi VLAN and the Stampede cloud, reducing setup work for venue staff and avoiding the need for specialist networking support.

The system is designed to avoid double NAT and inbound firewall dependencies, which Stampede argues have contributed to deployment problems in traditional guest Wi-Fi environments. It also runs a local authentication and captive portal server inside the venue, rather than relying on access-point splash pages and third-party redirect systems.

This local approach is intended to give operators direct control over guest logins and device behaviour on the network. Support for DHCP Option 114 is also intended to address common Apple and Android auto-login failures seen in existing guest Wi-Fi deployments.

Security Focus

SNAPguard separates guest traffic from point-of-sale systems, staff networks, and CCTV, a distinction Stampede says is important for hospitality sites that need to protect internal systems while still offering public access.

According to the company, SNAPguard is iOS- and Android-captive portal compliant, GDPR-ready by design, and aligned with ISO 27001, SOC 2 controls, and Cyber Essentials security standards. It is also intended to meet insurer and safeguarding expectations in hospitality settings.

The launch reflects the continued importance of guest Wi-Fi in venues where connectivity is treated as a basic service, while also serving as a source of customer data. Operators are increasingly looking for systems that can link connectivity with marketing, loyalty and repeat visits while avoiding disruption to payment and staff systems.

“Today’s guests expect fast, free Wi-Fi when visiting hotels, bars and restaurants. The Wi-Fi experience at many venues has generally not been great for many guests in the past across the hospitality sector. Many Wi-Fi captive portal services out there are cumbersome to install, less reliable and they don’t manage customer data and guest engagement efficiently. To combat these problems, we created SNAPguard – which makes it easy for hospitality venues to install and provide guests with fast, secure and reliable Wi-Fi access,” said Patrick Clover, founder and CEO of Stampede.

Founded in Edinburgh in 2016, Stampede sells software for hospitality operators that links guest Wi-Fi to bookings, payments, loyalty, reviews, and marketing on a single platform. SNAPguard is positioned within that wider system as the network layer for venues that want tighter control over how guests join Wi-Fi and how data from those sessions is used.

“SNAPguard also enables operators to develop a branded customer-facing guest Wi-Fi proposition that sits within the unified Stampede platform. This equips operators to capture guest data accurately and effectively, and to use this data to support and grow guest engagement and revenue across the business. Uniquely, changing the guest experience in the other direction is also possible with SNAPguard. Operators can use guest profiles within Stampede to dictate the experience they receive on guest Wi-Fi, including connection speeds and paid, free or hybrid networks,” said Clover.