A Hotelier’s Guide to Social Media Marketing by Channel
The internet is a big place filled with office memes, cat videos, and competitor hotels. And while you don’t have to be everywhere, you do have to be where your target audience is. In addition to a mobile-friendly website, your hotel needs to be on the right OTAs and social media channels. An estimated 4.9 […]
How to Win Guests and Influence Customers
It’s been more than eight decades since Dale Carnegie wrote his famous book, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Self-help books come and go, but this seminal work remains popular today. Why? The advice is not only practical and timely but also logical and straightforward. If Carnegie’s advice could be distilled into one sentence, […]
How to Maximize Hotel TRevPAR
Riddle: Two hotels have the same number of rooms and charge the same rates. On a given night, both book an equal number of rooms. However, in our imaginary revenue competition, there is a clear winner. How is this possible? The answer is simple (and the title of this post may be a giveaway!). TRevPAR […]
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 […]
How to Create a Hotel Business Plan
Budding hoteliers can set themselves up for success by building a solid business plan. The symbolic foundation of your hotel, your business plan keeps you on track and accountable to your objectives and goals and is necessary for securing investors. This is not to say that initial plans should not be adapted and revised, especially […]
Villas Nicolas
In need of some serious rest and relaxation? Treat yourself to a stay at Villas Nicolas in Costa Rica. You can sunbathe on the sandy beaches or tour the jungle and see if you can spot any crocodiles (don’t spot them too close!). Rooms come with unique, tasteful furniture (nothing cookie-cutter), air conditioning, and free […]
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 […]
An Independent Hotelier’s Guide to Reducing Waste
Travelers are increasingly conscious of their impact on both the destination they travel to and the planet as a whole. Moving to Mars isn’t an option (yet)! The impact of any given trip is significantly influenced by the accommodation chosen. According to a 2022 report, 46 percent of travelers chose to stay at a sustainable […]
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 […]
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 […]
Casia Lodge and Ranch
Treat yourself to a stay at Casia Lodge and Ranch. Located in Twisp, Washington and cradled by the Methow Valley, it has everything you need to escape from it all. You can horseback ride, raft down the river, or simply relax. You’ll even wake up to fresh coffee and pastries in your room, followed by […]
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? […]
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 […]
Grove Hotel
Dip into the pool or dive into the party scene at Grove Hotel. This GLBTQ+ hotel on Fire Island, New York, has everything you need to enjoy your beach vacation…even a nightclub. You can even stop by the Miss Fire Island Pageant this September. It’s a popular drag pageant with contestants from across the USA. […]
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, […]
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. […]
Tonquin Inn
Ready for your outdoor adventure? Stay at Tonquin Inn for hiking, biking, skiing, and rafting in Jasper National Park. This beautiful park in Alberta has all the stunning mountain views you could want, and the inn has everything you need to be comfortable once you get back from that hike. It’s even pet friendly! Tonquin […]
Black Bear Resort
Want to get away to the woods? Book yourself into Black Bear Resort, nestled by a natural forest in Port McNeill, BC with gorgeous harbor views. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, high-speed internet, and a private bathtub for when you need a hot soak. And this retreat isn’t completely rustic–there are plenty of […]
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 […]