Aruba Captive Portal: How to Set Up a Branded Splash Page with StayFi Express
Aruba WiFi systems are built for reliable guest connectivity. But standard guest WiFi alone does not always help you capture guest data, grow your marketing list, or drive more direct bookings. With StayFi Express, vacation rental managers, hotels, resorts, campgrounds, and hospitality operators can add a branded captive portal to a compatible Aruba network without replacing their existing WiFi setup.
About Ubiquiti Hardware
What Is an Aruba Captive Portal?
An Aruba captive portal is the splash page guests see before they access your WiFi network. It can be used to show your brand, share WiFi terms, and require a quick login before guests go online.
For hospitality operators, the bigger opportunity is guest data. With StayFi Express, your Aruba captive portal becomes a branded login page that captures guest emails, phone numbers, and marketing consent while keeping your existing Aruba WiFi setup in place.
How It Works
How a Captive Portal Works with StayFi Express
StayFi Express connects to a compatible Aruba network and adds a branded splash page to your guest WiFi experience. When guests join your network, they are redirected to a custom login page where they can enter an email address, phone number, or complete another access step before internet access is granted.
Once submitted, guests connect normally while their details are captured for future marketing and guest communication. Your existing WiFi name and password can remain the same, which helps avoid disruption for smart TVs, locks, cameras, thermostats, and other connected property devices.
How StayFi Express Turns Aruba WiFi into a Marketing Engine
StayFi Express adds a marketing layer to your existing Aruba WiFi without requiring you to replace the network already in place. By placing a StayFi Express device on a compatible Aruba setup, guest internet access becomes an opportunity to collect data, build relationships, and generate repeat revenue.
Here are the things you can do with StayFi Express + Aruba:
1. Buy & Connect UniFi Access Points
Purchase Aruba hardware and get set up onsite.
2. Collect Guest Data
Create a StayFi account and start collecting guest info at WiFi sign in.
3. Remarket to Your Guests
Set up automated marketing campaigns tailored for vacation rentals in seconds.
4. Watch Direct Bookings Skyrocket
Watch as previous guests fill your upcoming booking calendar.
How It Helps
Why Integrate StayFi’s Captive Portal with Aruba?
Aruba is built for reliable guest WiFi, with strong access points, roaming support, VLAN options, and centralized network management. That makes it a solid fit for hotels, resorts, and multi-property rental networks.
StayFi adds the guest marketing layer that core networking hardware is not designed to handle. Instead of using WiFi only for connectivity, you can add a branded captive portal, capture first-party guest data, collect marketing consent, and build automated post-stay campaigns.
Together, Aruba and StayFi combine enterprise-grade network performance with hospitality growth tools. You keep your Aruba SSID, existing coverage, and infrastructure while adding a system built to help drive repeat stays, direct bookings, and better guest engagement.
How to Set Up StayFi Express on Aruba
Setting up StayFi Express on Aruba is designed to be simple. In most cases, you keep your existing Aruba WiFi network in place and add StayFi Express to power the branded splash page experience. Here are 5 steps to follow:
- Connect the StayFi Express device to your Aruba router, gateway, or switch using Ethernet.
- Log in to your StayFi dashboard and begin the guided setup flow.
- Access your Aruba management portal if network settings such as DNS, IP reservation, or guest network options need adjustment.
- Confirm setup in StayFi, activate the device, and assign it to the property.
- Guests continue joining WiFi with your existing SSID and password, now with a branded captive portal login page.
Because the network name and password can remain unchanged, smart TVs, locks, thermostats, and other connected devices typically do not need to be reconfigured.
Supported Aruba Systems with StayFi Express
If you already run guest WiFi on Aruba, you do not need to rebuild your network to add a branded splash page. StayFi Express connects to your existing Aruba setup and adds the captive portal layer guests see before they go online.
Supported Aruba systems include:
- Supported UniFi controllers:
- Aruba Networks access point setups
- Aruba Instant On networks
- Aruba Central-managed networks
- Supported used UniFi devices:
- Aruba gateway-based networks
- Aruba controller-managed WiFi environments
- Aruba guest SSID networks
Before setup, make sure you have access to your Aruba management portal and core network settings. You may need to confirm items like Ethernet availability, DNS settings, IP reservation, guest network configuration, and VLAN rules so StayFi Express can route guest traffic correctly.
Power Your Captive Portal with StayFi Express
Used by vacation rental hosts and property manager, StayFi Express connects with your existing Aruba network to deliver a branded guest Wi-Fi experience. From single rentals to large portfolios, it helps transform guest Wi-Fi into a valuable marketing and retention tool.
Splash Page Customization & Data Capture
StayFi Express lets you customize the Aruba WiFi login flow with a branded splash page and a post-login StayFi Home page.
You can add your logo, brand colors, background image, welcome text, consent language, and redirect settings. Guests can enter their email, phone number, or other required fields before getting WiFi access.
After login, the StayFi Home page can show house rules, checkout instructions, upsells, local recommendations, or direct booking offers. The captured guest data can then be used for email campaigns, SMS follow-ups, review requests, and repeat booking promotions.
Email Marketing & CRM Integrations
StayFi Express connects your Aruba splash page to the guest email marketing tools you already use. After guests log in, approved contact details collected through the captive portal can sync into StayFi’s built-in email marketing platform or supported third-party platforms for ongoing campaigns.
StayFi supports integrations such as:
- Mailchimp
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Constant Contact
- Zapier
- CSV exports and more – see our full list of integrations
This allows you to automate pre-arrival emails, review requests, post-stay follow-ups, abandoned direct booking offers, and repeat stay promotions. You can also segment contacts by property, stay date, booking source, or guest behavior to send more relevant campaigns.
Instead of manually exporting guest details, Aruba WiFi sign-ins can flow directly into your CRM or email platform, helping you build a usable first-party guest database over time.
Ready to Turn Your Aruba WiFi into a Guest Marketing Engine?
Capture guests emails and phone numbers, automate review and rebooking campaigns, and create more direct booking opportunities directly from your Aruba splash page.
Guest Login Experience
With StayFi Express, guests connect to your Aruba WiFi the same way they normally would. The difference is that they are shown a branded splash page before internet access is approved. Guests can enter their email, phone number, or required login details, accept your terms, and then continue online.
After login, they can be redirected to your StayFi Home page for house rules, property details, upsells, or direct booking offers. This keeps the process simple for guests while giving your property a branded WiFi experience and a reliable way to capture data.
How Aruba and StayFi Express Power a Complete Guest Marketing Strategy
StayFi Express does more than add a login page to your Aruba WiFi. It gives hospitality operators a connected system for collecting guest data, communicating with guests, and bringing past visitors back by:
- Turning WiFi Login into a Branded Touchpoint: Aruba keeps the guest network running, while StayFi Express adds a custom splash page with your logo, colors, imagery, and welcome message.
- Sending Rebooking and Review Campaigns from StayFi: After guests connect, StayFi’s built-in email and SMS tools can send thank-you notes, review requests, direct booking offers, and seasonal promotions.
- Promoting Offers after Guests Connect: The StayFi Home page can highlight upgrades, local recommendations, house rules, checkout steps, and direct booking links during the stay.
- Building Your Own Guest Database: StayFi Express captures guest emails, phone numbers, consent, and custom fields through the Aruba WiFi login flow, helping you reach more than only the primary booker.
- Creating Retargeting Audiences: Guest data collected through StayFi can support Facebook and Instagram audience syncing, so you can reach past guests or similar travelers with paid campaigns.
Together, Aruba handles the WiFi infrastructure, while StayFi Express adds the branded portal, guest database, and marketing tools needed to drive repeat stays and more direct bookings.
Comparing Aruba Guest Network vs. Aruba + StayFi Express
An Aruba guest network is built to provide secure, reliable internet access through access points, guest SSIDs, VLANs, routing, and network management tools. It helps you separate guest traffic from internal devices, manage WiFi access, and keep properties connected.
What it does not do by default is turn every WiFi login into a branded marketing opportunity. StayFi Express fills that gap by adding the splash page, data capture, StayFi Home page, and built-in guest marketing tools on top of your Aruba setup.
The table below compares using the Aruba guest network vs. enhancing it with StayFi Express:
| Feature | Aruba Guest Network | StayFi Express |
|---|---|---|
| Branding |
Basic guest access page
|
Fully customizable splash and landing pages
|
| Data Capture |
Limited by default setup
|
Real-time email and phone number capture
|
| Email Verification |
Not built in
|
Integrated email verification tools
|
| CRM Integration |
Requires separate workflows
|
Guest data sync and export options
|
| Marketing Automation |
Not included
|
Automated emails and SMS campaigns
|
| Guest Rebooking |
Manual follow-up
|
Built-in repeat stay promotions
|
| Upsell Opportunities |
Not designed for this
|
Promotes upgrades and offers post-login
|
| Guest Database |
Minimal first-party data
|
Builds reusable first-party guest lists
|
| WiFi Infrastructure |
Aruba network hardware
|
Works with compatible Aruba setups
|
| Overall Value |
Reliable connectivity
|
Connectivity plus revenue-focused marketing
|
For Aruba users, StayFi Express helps turn guest WiFi from a utility into a measurable growth channel without replacing the network already in place.
Results Using StayFi with Ubiquiti UniFi
StayFi is now deployed in over 80,000 vacation rentals and boutique hotels that use UniFi networks, where it’s become a cornerstone of guest engagement and repeat-booking strategies. Here are some of the things our customers have achieved:
Cozi Vacation Rentals took a portfolio of 200 listings from a 0 to 30% direct booking rate in just over a year by using StayFi WiFi & email marketing while accumulating a list of over 25,000 guest emails.
Mike Z Rentals experienced a revenue uplift of $12,000 per year from upsells through StayFi WiFi marketing alone using StayFi HomePage and our built-in upsell storefronts in addition to adding 1,400 emails to their guest list.
Cottage Stays has used StayFi and UniFi to reach a 100% direct booking rate in the high season while also benefiting from dramatically fewer WiFi support calls and complaints from their guests.
These outcomes illustrate why STR operators consider StayFi more than a WiFi add-on—it’s a revenue multiplier powered by verified contact data and automated engagement.
Ready to Get More From Your Aruba Guest WiFi?
StayFi Express helps you turn an Aruba guest network into more than internet access. You can launch a branded login page, collect guest emails and phone numbers, send automated follow-ups, and keep past guests connected to your brand after checkout.
Start with StayFi Express or schedule a demo to see how it can work with your Aruba network.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers!
Do I need to replace my Aruba WiFi hardware to use StayFi Express?
No. StayFi Express is designed to work with compatible existing Aruba networks, so you can keep your current access points, SSID, and network setup in place.
Can I keep my current WiFi name and password?
In many setups, yes. This helps reduce disruption for returning guests and connected devices such as smart TVs, locks, and cameras.
What guest data can I collect?
You can collect items such as email addresses, phone numbers, consent responses, and custom form fields configured in your splash page.
Can I run marketing campaigns inside StayFi?
Yes. StayFi includes built-in email and SMS tools that can be used for review requests, rebooking offers, post-stay follow-up, and guest promotions.
Is Aruba a good fit for hospitality WiFi?
Yes. Aruba is widely used in hotels, resorts, apartments, and managed properties because of its reliable access points, roaming support, and centralized network management.