A hotel lobby TV running a static brand slideshow is a missed opportunity. Guests arriving after a long journey immediately want to know one thing: what is the weather like here? A live weather display on the lobby screen answers that question before they even reach the front desk — and it keeps the screen genuinely useful throughout the day rather than just decorative.
This guide explains how to add a live weather display to your lobby TV, using InfoSlides as the platform and real weather data from a free public API.
Why weather belongs on a hotel lobby screen
Weather is the single piece of information that almost every arriving guest wants. Will it rain this afternoon? Do I need a jacket for dinner? Is it safe to drive to the waterfall today? A lobby screen that answers these questions without the guest having to ask creates a small but genuine moment of service — and keeps the screen earning its place on the wall.
Weather is also a natural fit alongside other lobby content: today's events, restaurant hours, local attractions. A rotating slideshow that mixes branded welcome slides with a current 3-day forecast and an events schedule feels purposeful rather than promotional.
What InfoSlides does with weather data
InfoSlides connects to the Open-Meteo weather API — a free, no-API-key-required weather service that covers any location in the world. You configure a weather content source once (just enter a town or coordinates) and InfoSlides fetches the current conditions and forecast automatically, on a rolling schedule.
The weather data is rendered directly into the video stream as a polished slide — temperature, wind speed, conditions, and a 3-day forecast — not pasted on top of a browser window. The result looks like a professional weather channel insert, not a web widget.
The slide updates automatically whenever the weather data refreshes. No one needs to touch the system.
Setting it up — step by step
Step 1 — Create a free InfoSlides account
Go to infoslides.app/register. No credit card required. The free plan covers one screen, which is enough to try this on your lobby TV.
Step 2 — Add a weather content source
In the InfoSlides dashboard, go to Content Sources and add a new source. Select the Local Weather adapter. Enter the location — town name, postcode, or GPS coordinates. InfoSlides immediately starts pulling the weather data and shows you a preview of the rendered slide.
Step 3 — Create a lobby slideshow
Create a new slideshow and add your existing content — a branded welcome slide, today's events, restaurant hours, local info. Then add a dynamic slide using the weather template. The weather slide will appear in the rotation alongside your other slides, refreshing its content automatically.
You can control how long the weather slide displays (10 seconds, 20 seconds, or longer) and how frequently it appears in the rotation.
Step 4 — Pair your lobby TV
On the TV, open a browser and go to infoslides.app/pair. A QR code appears — scan it with a phone and the screen registers. If your lobby TV is a Samsung smart TV, you can install the InfoSlides app from the Samsung Galaxy Store instead, which avoids the browser setup entirely.
Assign the slideshow to the device and the screen goes live. The weather data starts displaying on the next rotation cycle.
For hotels in Iceland — extended live data
If your property is in Iceland, InfoSlides has a set of live data adapters built specifically for Icelandic conditions that go well beyond a standard weather forecast. The Iceland live data suite includes:
- Avalanche forecast — regional danger levels from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, updated automatically. Displayed as a slide showing all five regions with colour-coded danger levels.
- Weather alerts — active weather warnings from the Met Office, colour-coded by severity (Yellow / Orange / Red). The slide disappears automatically when alerts expire.
- Road conditions map — a live colour-coded map of road passability from Vegagerðin, the Icelandic Road Administration. Guests planning to drive to Þórsmörk or cross a mountain pass can check the map before they leave.
- Windy weather animation — an animated wind and precipitation map of Iceland from Windy.com, recorded every 15 minutes and played as a video segment in the stream.
For a hotel, guesthouse, or visitor centre in Iceland, showing this information on the lobby screen turns it into a travel safety resource — something guests genuinely pay attention to. It requires no manual work after initial setup.
Other content that works well alongside weather
Weather is a strong anchor but a lobby screen with only weather can feel thin. A few additions that work well for hotel lobbies:
- Today's events and conference schedule. Update the slideshow from any browser when room assignments change or a new booking comes in. Every lobby screen reflects the change in seconds.
- Restaurant hours and specials. Time-based scheduling can switch the restaurant slide automatically at the start of each service period — no one needs to remember.
- Google Reviews. Your best guest reviews cycling as full-screen slides — reviewer name, star rating, and quote, automatically pulled from Google Places. Social proof at the moment of arrival. Available on the Professional plan.
- Local attractions. Curated recommendations for nearby sights, transport options, and activities. Designed once, runs indefinitely.
Monitoring that the screen is actually running
InfoSlides includes a playback report showing per-device uptime and health status. For a property with screens across multiple floors, bars, and dining areas, the report shows whether each screen was online and playing the right content for its scheduled time slot — without anyone walking around to check. If a screen goes offline, the dashboard flags it immediately.
Cost and getting started
The free plan covers one screen with no time limit — enough to run a weather display on a single lobby TV at no cost. The weather adapter and basic scheduling are available on all plans. Google Reviews slides require the Professional plan (€29/month for up to 25 screens).
See the full hotel and venue guide for everything InfoSlides can do across a property, or sign up free to get your lobby screen running today.