10 Tips to Attract Hotel Guests and Kick COVID-19 to the Curb
Attracting hotel guests during COVID-19 is a challenge. The world is a different place and the effects on the hospitality industry may be longer lasting than initially anticipated. While hotels are struggling, we’ve heard inspiring stories about how some accommodations have adapted and continue to attract hotel guests during the pandemic. We hope these hotel […]
5 Hotel Trends Strengthened by COVID-19
While the pandemic is responsible for many properties experiencing decreased revenue and occupancy, there are ways that hoteliers can adapt and rise to the occasion to continue to build customer relationships and provide safe, memorable stays. The following five hotel trends were gaining in popularity before the pandemic and their benefits are only strengthened now […]
Drive Hotel Occupancy & Revenue with Creative Staycation Packages
Preparing for the end of a year that most of us are happy to be rid of, we look ahead with plans for a much better 2021 as we continue to learn to live and travel in our new reality. For most lodging operators, this holiday season will look very different from the last, but […]
5 Hotel Website Design Tips to Boost Bookings
Your website is the hub for all information and content regarding your property and is often the first thing people see when they search for and interact with your business. For these reasons, it’s important for your site to not only be aesthetically pleasing but also intuitive and user-friendly. While it’s important to adapt and […]
Google My Business: How to Use It and Why You Should
Whether it’s for a new lunch spot, nearby grocery store, or holiday accommodation, Google is typically the first stop in any internet search. That makes it an important channel on which to focus your marketing efforts. In addition to the page results returned with a search – which you should be trying to top with […]
Staycation Destination: Marketing Your Property to Local Travelers
The world will likely see a reduction in international travel for the foreseeable future. Uncertainty around border restrictions and a wariness to book expensive flights in such an uncertain time means many people are going to be staying on their own soil for a while. But that doesn’t mean they’ve lost their yen for a […]
COVID-19 May Benefit Direct Bookings—Is Your Hotel Ready?
According to Larry Mogelonsky of Hotel Mogel Consulting, COVID-19 might be a boon for direct bookings. As OTAs (online travel agencies) struggle with mass cancellations due to the pandemic, travelers are finding it difficult to access overloaded customer support systems (online and on the phone) to process cancellations, refunds and credits. As Mogelonsky pointed out […]
How Hotels Can Come Out Stronger from COVID-19
COVID-19 and the travel restrictions and lockdowns required to reduce the spread of the virus have brought about an unprecedented drop in occupancy for hotels and other lodging operations all over the world. Some properties have had to close out floors, suspend certain services such as dining and event services, or temporarily shut their doors. […]
Email Marketing Tips for Independent Hoteliers in the 2020s
Businesses are reaching out to customers today in more ways than ever before—by social media, chatbot, mobile messaging, SMS, phone call, email, online advertising, TV and radio ads, and print… Phew! But of any marketing channel, email still delivers the best return on investment (in both time and money) and remains the key strategic channel […]
How Independent Hotels and B&Bs Can Take Advantage of the Off-Season
Whether you completely shut down over winter or have fewer bookings, low travel seasons can prove just as advantageous as peak travel times if you remain proactive. Creating a strategy to adapt to your business’s changing seasons will ensure that your off-season is as successful as your busiest periods. Be Active on Social Media There […]
How Independent Hotels Can Show Guests Some Love This Valentine’s Day
The month of love is almost upon us—is your hotel ready to woo guests? Whether you personally relish the romance of Valentine’s Day or think it’s nothing more than a marketing tactic, Valentine’s Day is a prime opportunity to boost the bottom line of any business in the hospitality industry. Here are some ideas to […]
An Independent Hotelier’s Guide to Upselling & Cross-Selling
If you’ve only ever thought of upselling as a way to increase revenue, think again. First and foremost, upselling and cross-selling are effective ways to enhance the guest experience. Done right, upselling offers more value to your guests, increasing guest satisfaction and loyalty. A rise in revenue will follow naturally. Technically, there’s a difference between […]
Top 5 Blog Posts for Independent Hoteliers in 2019
Goodbye, 2019; hello, 2020! As we look back on another exciting year in hospitality, our final post for the year highlights our five most popular posts of 2019, indicating what’s most important to our readers. Going by our most-read blog posts of the year, it seems that giving guests what they want and using modern […]
Boost Off-Season Occupancy with Staycation Bookings
As we leave the peak travel season behind us, it’s time for hoteliers to implement strategies to maintain occupancy as best as possible. Beyond dropping room rates there are more resourceful ways to boost reservations—marketing your property to staycationers is one of them. A staycation is a vacation taken close to home, normally within a […]
An Independent Hotelier’s Guide to Loyalty Programs
Loyalty programs have been a part of the hospitality game for decades. And for as long as they have been around, they’ve been the subject of much debate. Like any strategy in hospitality, some consider loyalty programs an essential part of their business and others have found them to be nothing but a liability. What […]
How Hoteliers Can Turn Negative Reviews into a Positive Online Image
Responding to negative reviews is the key to creating a positive online reputation for your business. ***Guest post from BlueJay Reviews, a WebRezPro partner*** Many hoteliers dread negative reviews, however it’s important to know that when negative reviews are managed correctly, they can actually help to create a positive impression among your existing and potential customers. When […]
5 Essential Website Features for Independent Hoteliers
The online world might feel like it’s changing every day, but a professional website is still (and will continue to be) the cornerstone of any business’s internet presence. It’s responsible for showcasing your property to the world, communicating credibility to interested parties, and facilitating direct bookings. A hotel website can make or break your business, […]
An Independent Hotelier’s Guide to Ancillary Revenue
For any hotelier, booking rooms is, of course, the most important strategy for driving profits. But disregarding the potential for ancillary revenue would be a big mistake. Your hotel has more to offer than just a bed to sleep in, and it’s worth recognizing the potential of your property to offer additional products and services. […]
Paid to Post: A Hotelier’s Guide to Influencer Marketing
Influencer Marketing. It’s likely a term you’ve heard thrown around in the last year or two, and perhaps is something you’ve considered doing yourself. You wouldn’t be alone; Hotel brands like Starwood Resorts, Fairmont, and Hilton Hotels are just a few of the businesses that have capitalized on this new opportunity. And a recent post […]
Top Tips for Getting More Online Hotel Reviews
Despite the constant evolution of online marketing and distribution platforms and social media, online reviews remain so important. According to recent research, a total of 92 percent of leisure travelers in the U.S. consider online hotel reviews “somewhat important” or “very important” when choosing a hotel. Recent changes to how Google reviews are displayed on […]
Data is All Around: How to Harness it for Hotel Success
From check-in to check-out and beyond, every action and interaction in a hotel generates data. But don’t let that daunt you. With the right systems in place, the right data can be harnessed in real time and accessed as needed to improve the guest experience and your property’s bottom line. What data and what for? […]
Google Ads 101: A Hotelier’s Guide to Advertising with Google (Part 1)
If you’ve done any marketing at all, you’ll have heard of Google Ads. The advertising service provided by Google is used by millions of businesses worldwide. Which makes sense. Google handles billions of search queries every day, so it’s a platform with the potential to reach any target market you desire. And as the tech […]
5 Hospitality Trends to Look Out For in 2019
A new year is beginning, and it’s the perfect time to take stock of what’s working, what isn’t, and start making a plan for finding success and wowing customers in 2019. Need a change but lack inspiration? Here are a few hospitality trends that will dominate in the new year: More Mobile The transition to […]
Everyone Is On Mobile. Why Aren’t You?
What you need to know about adopting a guest messaging platform for your hotel. ***Guest post from Whistle, a WebRezPro partner*** Hotels are in a bit of a technological limbo. We are one of the few industries that still use FAX machines while providing guests with cutting-edge technology like digital keys. In the end, the decision […]