Boutique Hotel Trends to Watch
With travel demand, labor shortages, and operating expenses increasing simultaneously, it’s a challenge for independent hoteliers to uphold service standards while working harder than ever. Watching and implementing current hotel trends enables hoteliers to find new ways to streamline operations, even as they elevate guest experience and maximize profit. Read on for important boutique hotel […]
Off the Beaten Path: How to Market Your Destination When No One’s Heard of It (Yet)
Not every hotel enjoys a renowned location like London, Paris, or Bali. Though these popular—and packed—destinations attract guests without trying, places off the beaten path also have great potential to snag bookings. Guests are more aware than ever of sustainable travel and overtourism (you know it’s bad when articles start talking about “tourists per head […]
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 […]
Building Blocks for Success: A Checklist for New Hoteliers
Opening a new hotel is an ambitious and tenacious endeavor—and one of the most rewarding. Whether you’re building a business plan for your new hotel or still running the numbers, the journey from concept to opening is undeniably overwhelming without a plan in hand. As Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you plan […]
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 […]
Big Advantages of Running a Small Hotel
Running a small operation amidst large chain hotels may seem daunting, but there are many advantages that set independent properties apart from the competition and appeal to today’s consumers. With greater flexibility to innovate and create and define their image, small and boutique hotels are an ideal traveler choice for excellent service and unique, memorable […]
The In-room Experience Guests Want
Gone are the days of pay-per-view movies and calling the front desk to adjust the thermostat (an annoying proposition even back in the 2000s). Modern guests look for a technologically advanced in-room experience that enables them to access additional amenities, make requests efficiently, and control more features of the room itself. Wi-Fi Who wants Wi-Fi? […]
How to Implement Guest Messaging at Your Hotel
There’s been a lot of chatter about guest messaging in the hotel industry lately. Everyone’s adopting mobile communication channels to better engage guests. It’s been happening since the pandemic forced us to avoid interacting with other people face to face. Momentum really picked up from there as hoteliers saw how quickly guests embraced text messaging […]
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 […]
6 Opportunities to Boost Revenue Your Hotel Might Be Missing
Just as it’s important to always look for ways to enhance the guest stay experience, hoteliers must constantly seek opportunities to boost revenue. Adapting your money-making strategies to the ever-changing landscape of the hotel industry will help your business stay profitable during difficult economic times and ensure long-term success. By capitalizing on consumer demand and […]
Zero Stars and Scandal: How to Handle a PR Crisis at Your Hotel
Going viral isn’t always a victory. If your staffer gets caught kicking a service puppy or a guest calls their room “revenge of the roaches,” going viral can be downright, well, viral to your reputation, whether or not the accusation is true. People prefer to do business with brands who share their values, and your […]
Food for Thought: Hotel F&B Trends
Food and beverage (F&B) preferences are highly individual, so how do hotels meet the specific demands of each guest? The answer is to creatively adapt current hospitality and food service trends to your F&B offerings, resulting in a unique, timeless, and relevant experience for your guests. A New Room Service Experience Prior to and during […]
Weird and Wonderful Hotel & Travel Campaigns to Inspire You
If you’ve ever found yourself in a crowd of kids, you’ll know how noisy it gets when each one talks louder and louder in an attempt to be heard. While this blog post is not about kids, this analogy is an example of what hotel marketing can feel like sometimes! Can you relate? Marketing emails, […]
Attract High-Value Guests with Expedia Members Only Promotions
Online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia provide a reliable source of bookings, bringing more visibility to your property than you could reach alone. While many travelers prefer to book direct, others choose to use trusted OTA sites to compare prices and book travel because of the convenience and perks OTAs offer, including loyalty programs. Expedia […]
6 Priorities for Independent Hoteliers This Year
There’s a lot trending in hospitality right now—so how do you prioritize? When we sat down to work through our recommendations for independent hotels to focus their energy on this year, what emerged was a heavy focus on technology. There’s little to no separation between our digital and “real” lives anymore. Offering guests truly exceptional […]
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 […]
Hotel Marketing Trends to Watch This Year
2023 has arrived with plenty of innovative marketing trends on the horizon, from fresh openings in social media to shifts in SEO. This year, guests are socially and safety conscious with both the environment and Covid-19 occupying their mental space. Here are important hotel marketing trends to help elevate your strategy and revenue this year. […]
An Independent Hotelier’s Guide to Virtual Hotel Tours
Advertisers have always tapped into the power of imagination. In fact, it’s the first step in creating desire. Studies show that the imagination increases guests’ intention to travel and imagining experiences can impact purchase decisions even weeks later. “Evoking the imagination as a strategy of influence” (Petrova and Cialdini) is not a new concept for […]
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 […]
Building a Brand: An Independent Hotelier’s Guide
“Design is the silent ambassador of your brand.” – Paul Rand Does your hotel have a brand? The answer is yes, even if you said no. Everything from your website design to the language used in your emails to room decor says it all about your hotel. And if you haven’t put any effort into […]
Love the Locals: How to Spice Up Your Staycation Offerings
Even as travel has opened up, staycations remain an appealing option for many potential guests. According to a 2022 survey by The Vacationer, 67% of respondents said they had taken a staycation or planned to take one that year. And why wouldn’t they? They can explore new facets of their local area… and order room […]
An Independent Hotelier’s Guide to Sleep Tourism
“I need a vacation from my vacation.” Hours of driving, flying, ferrying, and waiting in line. Days packed with exciting yet exhausting back-to-back activities. Sumptuous meals, drinks, and extended bedtimes. Sound familiar? In the past, going on holiday typically meant making the most of your time by participating in as many experiences as possible. Going […]
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 […]
