Designing and delivering the ultimate hotel experience to your guests begins even before their arrival. While pre-arrival Email communication is important, it is likely going to be forgotten once they’ve set foot on your property. From then on it’s only what they experience in person. You want to ensure that every new memory they’re forming of your hotel is a positive one. Here are 4 simple, yet powerful ways in which you can start to please your guests right upon their arrival.
Flash a Warm, Welcoming Smile
Arriving at the hotel after a journey is comparable to arriving home after a long, tiring day – and who doesn’t like to come home to a smiling face? Your staff should be well trained to greet the guests with a warm, welcoming smile upon their arrival. This simple gesture holds the power to put your guests at instant ease – making them feel safe and at home. A smiling staff makes them approachable which is what you need for your guests to be comfortable during their stay – delivering the ultimate hotel experience from the get go.
Don’t Make them Wait
Your guests are likely exhausted after what was presumably a long journey. Who knows when was the last time they got to put their feet up and rest their head. The last thing they want is to be kept waiting in the lobby of the hotel especially when they’re so close to a shower and a cozy bed.
Offer the luxury of time to your guests by automating your check-in process which will avoid unnecessary queuing and waiting. Ensure your pre-arrival communication to the guest delivers easy to understand instructions about the online check-in process.
Additionally, an online check-in can help you boost your hotel ratings, as 90% of positive reviews stem from a good check-in.
Ensure Your Hotel is Easy to Navigate
So the guest was welcomed with a warm smile, and the automated check-in process saved them a ton of time. They’re now on their way to the room….but hold on, how did they end up at the business center? Saving your guest time on arrival isn’t just about a quick check-in. Ensure your hotel is easy to navigate through proper signage at every step of the way. If your property is an exceptionally large one, you could perhaps explore the option of providing your guests with a digital map.
Personal Touch in Rooms
A clean room, cozy bed, fresh linen and lightly scented bathroom – these are all the basics that you would have gotten down pat. But you could also let your guests fall in love at first sight with their room by adding a personal touch.
A handwritten welcome note, a cute little welcome gift basket, some complimentary refreshments…the possibilities are endless. A personal welcome note paired with an exclusive freebie will straight up make a lasting impression on your guests. If there’s a special occasion that the guest may be celebrating during their stay – perhaps a birthday or an anniversary – make sure to nod toward it in your welcome note and/or gift.
Summing up: The Perfect Hotel experience
To sum up, relying on technology to automate time-consuming processes for guests will help you go one step further in your Hotel experience. Make a difference by making your guests stay memorable – And remember! A happy guest can bring you 5 times more bookings than a paid channel since 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends. So, don’t wait any longer and work on pleasing your guests during their stay and upon arrival.
