What hotelier doesn’t want more bookings? Often, the only thing preventing your rooms from being filled faster is the way your hotel is presented to the public. Optimizing your hotel discoverability online is the best way to catch the attention of the modern traveler. Additionally, improving your property management system can deliver a more seamless experience to your visitors. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the best ways your business can boost your book-ability, online and on-premise.
Optimize Your Website for Mobile
According to Google, an increasing amount of travelers are planning their trips from mobile devices, and mobile websites actually see higher usage than apps themselves. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re missing out on valuable impressions. Your mobile site shouldn’t just be a watered-down version of your desktop site — make it fully functional so that customers can both plan and book their trip from their phones. Better yet, offer features like mobile check-in and front desk chatbot support!
Perfect Your Online Listings
There are a multitude of online listing sites out there, from travel-specific platforms to more general review sites like Yelp. Periodically review your hotel’s listings on these sites to make sure that all of the information is up-to-date and free of errors. Nothing is worse than a typo in a URL or a misdirected address — do your due diligence to avoid these errors.
In addition to keeping your listings accurate, you can show site visitors that you care about their feedback by responding to online reviews. If you sincerely address the concerns of your guests and thank those who give your hotel praise, prospective customers can be confident that their satisfaction is your top priority.
Cater Your Online Ads to Travelers
Online ad services are becoming increasingly interwoven with the hotel booking experience. Google has rolled out a new Hotel Ads service that allows consumers to book directly from user search results, closing the gap between discovery and conversion. You can accurately target certain market sectors and offer unique pricing to your most loyal customers.
More and more searches are happening via voice, making it important to have your web content optimized for verbal queries. Include keywords like “near me” — as well as plenty of location-specific terms, such as “hotel in Atlanta” — on your website to help voice searchers more easily find their way to your doors.
Modernize Your Hotel Property Management System
Modern hotel PMS technology has brought the best practices of design and user experience to the world of accommodation. With platforms like StayNTouch, guests can seamlessly check in and out via their mobile devices, and use self-serve kiosks in the lobby to get their needs taken care of efficiently. In addition, cloud-based hotel management allows you to run your business from anywhere, on any device. This means you can tweak your rates and availability, check in with your staff, and see advanced analytics, all on the go and without the need for bulky servers.
Improve Your Guest Experience
Your hotel guest experience doesn’t just start when they check into their room. From the moment they discover your business their visitor journey has begun, and every piece of interaction they have with your brand from then on affects their overall experience. Provide them information about their stay and inquire about the purpose of their visit so that you can personalize it for them.
Remember that the little touches are what makes an ordinary stay exceptional. Without much effort, something like a short, handwritten note can really make their stay feel special. The art of accommodation lies in delivering an experience that is not only comfortable but memorable. After your guests check out, follow up with them to see how you can deliver an even better stay on their next visit.
Offer Better Rewards
A customer loyalty or points program is nothing special in itself. Throw in some irresistible offers and your guests will be sure to sign up. Reward those who book with you directly so that you’re more likely to be top of mind when they start their travel searches. In addition, incentivizing direct bookings allows you to save on OTA fees and advertiser discounts.
Share What Makes You Unique
With the multitude of listings available at a potential guest’s fingertips, how can your hotel stand out from the pack? Every hotel aims to provide exceptional service and a comfortable stay, so look for attributes that are more unique. Share customer feedback that highlights what sets you apart and target your marketing to any niche communities which may be interested.
Your hotel is sure to be more discoverable, more enjoyable, and more bookable when you utilize the tips above. StayNTouch makes it easy to offer a superior hotel experience, for staff and customers alike!
