6 Tips for Doing Social Customer Service Right
Great customer service has always been (and always will be) synonymous with the hospitality industry. But the approach to delivering customer service is evolving; great customer service has become synonymous with social customer service—providing customer care through your social media channels. Online reputation and social media are now inextricably tied to attracting new guests and […]
Data Power! How to Use Your PMS to Drive Bookings
Marketing efforts are usually front of mind when it comes to boosting bookings, but what’s behind a good marketing strategy? In more ways than one, your property management system (PMS) is at the heart of driving reservations—not just managing them. We’re not only talking about decreasing rates when occupancy is low; the secret to generating […]
Social Media Dos and Don’ts: A Hoteliers’ Guide
It’s doubtful any hotel owner in this day and age needs to be convinced of the importance of social media marketing (it isn’t 2004 anymore or even 2014). But acknowledging the need to be on social media platforms isn’t enough. You need to make sure you’re doing it right. Here are the most important social […]
Take Direct Bookings through Facebook
With three billion monthly users, Facebook is the place to be on the internet. The social media giant cannot be ignored by any business that wants to engage with customers. Chances are you already invest plenty of energy into cultivating your property’s Facebook presence, and we think that’s great! Now it’s time to get an […]
If You List It, They Will Come: A Hotel’s Guide to Google Business Profiles
Most people planning a vacation start with a Google search. That’s why you work so hard to optimize your website’s search results placement with SEO strategies. And you should. But it’s not all you can do to make the platform work for you. Maintaining your Google Business Profile is an important step to stay competitive […]
Getting to Know WebRezPro: Key Reports
While the thought of reporting makes many of us cringe, smart hoteliers know that tracking hotel reservations, rooms, and revenue is key to running an efficient operation and making decisions that drive success. Some lodging operators spend too much time manually gathering data from various sources and creating spreadsheets, but there’s a better way. Automated […]
How a Cloud PMS Generates Repeat Bookings
Growing a loyal customer base is great for business. (This goes for any industry, not just hospitality.) Bringing past guests back not only costs less than acquiring new ones, but loyal customers tend to spend more too. In addition, they advocate for your property, recommending it to their friends and family and sharing their stay […]
A Hotelier’s Guide to Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining Employees
Your employees are the backbone of your business. That’s true across industries but particularly in hospitality. They facilitate bookings, welcome guests, and ensure their stays are comfortable and memorable. It’s imperative to find and hold on to quality staff members. However, this isn’t always easy, especially in the current post-pandemic labor market. In an AHLA […]
Happy Employees = Happy Guests: How to Increase Staff Engagement
While the pandemic may be winding down, and people no longer swarm the toilet paper aisle, labor shortage is still a significant challenge for lodging operations. According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), 85 percent of its member hotels remain understaffed. And without staff, there is no hotel. Technology can increase efficiency so […]
Best Practices for Managing Your Online Hotel Reviews
There’s plenty of research to support the fact that reviews turn lookers into bookers with nearly half of US consumers trusting reviews as much as recommendations from family and friends. To boost bookings, accommodation providers not only need to accumulate online reviews but also respond to them effectively (more than half of consumers say they […]
Finding a Happy Balance: Direct Bookings vs. OTAs
Online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia and Booking.com can bring a significant proportion of revenue to a lodging business, but they also demand high commission fees. Do you love ’em or hate ’em? Ultimately, the relationship should be determined by the ROI generated from your OTA channels. While the commissions can sting, OTAs increase a […]
Is Your Hotel Revenue Management Strategy Working?
Hotel revenue management is a complicated process with a simple goal: to maximize revenue. It’s about analyzing demand and honing what you offer to sell the right product to the right customer at the right time, on the right channel, for the right price to grow profit. If your hotel’s bottom line is bottoming out, […]
How Hotel Management Software Helps Attract New Guests
Cloud property management systems (PMS) streamline daily operations and customer service delivery, which results in satisfied guests and repeat business. Most lodging operators understand how the level of efficiency and personalization facilitated by modern hotel management software turns first-time guests into loyal customers—but it’s also important to know how a cloud PMS brings those first-timers […]
How to Inspire Guests on Social Media
Social media isn’t a flashy new trend anymore; it’s a fundamental marketing cornerstone. Fifty-two percent of travelers have chosen to visit a place after seeing its image or video in their peers’ social media, and even more (60 percent) post photos on vacation. Any accommodation business that wants to amplify reach and drive bookings should […]
Getting to Know Your Guests: How to Gather Guest Data
In our digitally connected world, consumers expect increasingly personalized service from the businesses they choose to deal with—especially from those in the hospitality industry. To stand out in such a competitive market, hotels need to provide individually relevant (and therefore memorable) guest experiences, the key to which lies in guest data. Guest data has long […]
Celebrate Spring with Style: A Hotelier’s Guide to Easter
The last of the Valentine’s Day chocolate has barely been finished and there’s already another sweet (and potentially profitable!) holiday around the corner. Easter is celebrated by 80% of Americans, and if you play your cards right, they could celebrate with you. Here’s a quick guide for independent hoteliers to make the most of this […]
How an Independent Motel Can Be a Lodging Superstar
When we think of a roadside motel, we don’t think of a business with five-star service and amenities. Ironically, that’s why independent motels are uniquely positioned to surprise and delight; guests don’t expect it. Designed to serve roadtrippers with convenient, affordable accommodation, motels are the preferred choice for many travelers—travelers who expect to get nothing […]
How to Attract Business Travelers to Your Independent Hotel
The business travel landscape has changed dramatically post-pandemic with the Zoom boom and rise of the workcation. However, this segment can still be very lucrative if you know what your audience wants and leverage the right amenities. In 2021, business travel comprised a fifth of tourist spending worldwide, contributing over 740 billion US dollars to […]
5 Big Reasons Your Hostel Needs a Cloud PMS
Managing a hostel is quite different from running a hotel. You sell beds—not always rooms—and often have to deal with activity reservations and high staff turnover. Your guests’ expectations are different too; they’re looking for clean bathrooms and a chance to meet new people, not an aromatherapy butler. (Wi-Fi is still mandatory though). But, just […]
What Do Your Guests Want for Christmas? Top Ideas for the Holidays
While economic uncertainty is curbing spending, people still plan to travel this holiday season—albeit more carefully, booking trips earlier and choosing options with flexible cancellation policies. For many, the season looks a lot more “normal” this year as we put the worst of the pandemic behind us. Is your property ready to grab your share […]
Social Media Tune Up: 5 Tips for Hoteliers
While various channels may change and disappear, social media is here to stay. It’s like the blackberry bush in your garden. You can pull the roots up all you want, but it isn’t going anywhere. You may as well harvest the berries. More than half the world uses social media for everything from baby updates […]
7 Signs it’s Time to Change Your Hotel PMS
Change can be daunting, especially when it involves time, resources, and complex decisions. For busy lodging operators, disrupting the status quo may not fit into your demanding schedule. But if that schedule is fraught with inefficiencies, and you’re struggling to keep up with daily tasks and guest expectations, something’s gotta give before your bottom line […]
Getting in on the Health Kick: Wellness for Independent Lodgings
Recent events have highlighted the importance of looking out for ourselves and others. An Ipsos survey discovered that 62 percent of Americans care more about their health than they did pre-pandemic. Both leisure and business travelers look for experiences that enhance their personal wellness regimes when away from home and use this criteria to choose […]
5 Tips for Designing a Hotel Loyalty Program that Really Works
Loyalty programs give consumers a better deal and companies repeat business they can rely on, so it’s no surprise they’re growing in popularity. In 2021, eighty-three percent of consumers claim that participating in a loyalty program affects their choice whether to purchase again. Loyal guests mean revenue. As of 2020, fifty-six percent of consumers said […]
