Julia
Sugarbaker said it best, “Hospitality is simply an opportunity to show love
and care.” There is no other industry in the world where people get to care
for people the way that they do in the hospitality industry. However, the
competition is fierce, and tuning a small hotel into a successful venture is
not a walk in the park. Small hotel owners need to do everything in their power
to boost their hotel business in times when guest demands are at their peak.
Today's guests want high-tech amenities, contactless experience, and digital
services everywhere. 81% of travelers want greater digital customer service
from hotels, no matter how big or small.
While
large-scale hotels can afford high-end technological amenities and spend a lot
of money on marketing, small hotel owners need to be smarter about promoting
their business. Using technology tools like hospitality
management software
allows small hotels to offer a premium guests experience giving them a fighting
chance to compete with large hotel owners. In this article, we will be
discussing the steps you can take to boost your small hotel business and stand
out from the crowd.
1. Make use of cloud-Based technology
The
bigger things do take care of themselves when the little things are already
taken care of. The point being, everything falls into it’s right place if the
stepping stone or foundation is right. Technology or cloud-based technology
being the stepping stone in this particular instance. Affordability,
scalability, flexibility and increased agility are some among the many benefits
of cloud-based hospitality management platforms. A whole lot of burden gets
offloaded with the assistance of this technology which is a boon to the already
overworked small hotel owners. The right platform will optimize your business,
improve customer relationship management and boost bookings.
Additionally,
do not be apprehensive in comparing your options. Not everything is created
equal and hence there will be numerous variants of hotel technologies to choose
from. Always prefer the platform which covers all the arenas, right from
marketing and employee scheduling solutions.
2. Give customers an innovative experience
Offering
room service and accommodations is not what the modern hotel industry is all
about at the moment. By identifying the expectations and needs of your guests,
you need to be able to provide an overall experience to them that is satisfying
and innovative. Special culinary experiences, spas, fitness classes, poolside
fun activities and live concerts are among the many things that can be
undertaken and hosted by the hotel to attract the younger travelers who usually
tend to spend less time inside the hotel room.
3. Contactless Guest Journey
Following
the pandemic, visitors are more cautious than ever about contact with
strangers, and only do so when absolutely necessary. Contactless experiences
make customers feel at ease in hotels, according to surveys, with 26
percent of consumers requesting digital room keys and 35 percent expecting
contactless payment. As per a study done by Oracle and Skift, 70% of
respondents agreed or strongly agreed that staying at hotels that used
contactless check-in techniques would be more appealing. You need to offer the
following as a small hotel:
. Contactless
booking: Contactless
booking has long been the norm, but by permitting prepayment and upselling on
the booking engine as well as pre-arrival messaging, you may reduce guest
interaction with property workers.
. Contactless
check-in and check-out: In the aftermath
of the epidemic, guests prefer a contactless check-in and check-out experience.
Your hospitality management software can assist you in quickly transitioning to
a digital check-in and check-out process.
. Digital
keys: When smart keys
replace the traditional room keys your guests may just wave their phones to get
access to their rooms or other secure locations like gyms or pools.
. Chatbot: Give guests the option of communicating with
any hotel department through their smartphones. From answering checkout questions
to making dinner reservations, a chatbot can handle practically any request.
. Contactless
room-service: Permit guests to
use their mobile device to browse room-service menus, place orders, and charge
to their folio to enhance their stay.
. Contactless
payment solutions: Your small hotel
may take and process credit card, debit card, and other kinds of payment with
contactless payment systems.
4. Keep an eye on your website
To
begin with, if you don't already have a website, you're jeopardizing your
chances of success. You won't be able to play this game if you rely on
third-party websites. You should have your own web page. You can't just have any
old website, either. It must be conversion-oriented. Keep in mind that your
website serves as a digital marketplace. It is your first line of communication
as well as display of services, and it's often the first thing they see, so
it's an important element of their whole experience.
So,
how can you make sure your website is optimized for conversions? You have
qualities that big chains don't, such as personality, history, and your own
story, as a small hotel. Find ways to convey this through imagery and language
on your website. You should also make sure that your website is
mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and includes a fully functional web booking
engine. This ensures that guests may book their stay directly on your website
rather than calling you or relying on third-party sites.
5. Bring repeat business by understanding guest needs
You
as a hotel owner need to know your guests and their needs. This entails more
than just conducting research and defining your target market. You need to know
who your guests are. The following are just a few of the questions you'll have
to answer in the quest for the above:
. Are
they interested in some events or local festivities?
. What
activities do they partake in when in town?
. What
time of the year do they visit?
. Do
their travel with their friends? Or pets?
. Do
they travel with their families or partners?
. Where
are they from?
You’d
ask, why must you gather all these details? Well, It's all about being able to
contact them again in the future and generating repeat business. You may send
personalized emails that speak directly to each guest's likes and preferences,
keep them updated about what's going on in the local region, and much more by
gathering this information.
6. Keep an eye on those reviews
You
can use feedback to improve your entire site, but you can't rely solely on
checkout feedback forms. After all, your visitors aren't going to stop there.
They'll turn to the web to vent their dissatisfaction on social media and
review sites. What can you do in these conditions? Read any new reviews that
have been submitted about your hotel, and answer to irate consumers with a
delicate response. Keep in mind that verbal exchange is your most effective
marketing strategy.
P.S:
Stay updated on the reviews of your competitors as well. Use reviews to figure
out their strengths and weaknesses. Next ensure you're doing everything you can
to succeed where they're lacking.
In conclusion
Finally, in order to improve hotel revenue, you must make informed selections. You'll need the correct technology, take use of social proof, make sure your website is conversion-oriented, and devise an effective distribution strategy. Then, to earn and sustain repeat business, get to know and engage with your guests. Even in today's ultra-competitive environment, it is possible to run a successful small hotel.
