Hospitality Hard Truths: 3 Reasons Why You're Not As Busy As The Hotel Across The Road
It’s always difficult to set up a business right across the road from a competitor. Unfortunately, this is precisely the situation that many hotel owners find themselves in. You want to set up in a desirable area, after all, but doing so also means you'll be within walking distance of the other hotels on the block. And, it's bound to dent your confidence if their doors are constantly turning, while yours remain shut.
Luckily, there are plenty of steps you can take to turn those tables around and ensure your competitor is the one looking ruefully out of the window. And it all starts with addressing the following three problems.
# 1 - Appearances Aren’t Great
When they first start looking for a hotel, the vast majority of customers will consider appearances first, and this may well be why you’re left out in the cold so often. After all, if your competitor has a shining lobby, brand spanking paint, and some great signage going on, then it’s no wonder that your slightly dilapidated, or just generally less sparkly hotel front goes overlooked.
Appearances really do matter, and this is a factor you need to perfect first and foremost. Redecorating your hotel front and making sure to add plenty of branding details like your logo, hotel name, and brand colors will all help. Guests might also peek into your lobby, so large glass fronts can show you have nothing to hide. Simply update your lobby to look fresh, appealing, and like an undeniably great place to stay.
# 2 - You Don’t Differentiate
You can’t always offer everything that your competitors do, and even if you did, you’d still struggle to stand apart. That’s why you should also differentiate. This is the thing that’ll truly secure bookings, because you’re no longer going directly head--to-head with that other hotel – you’re appealing to an entirely different audience.
For instance, you could update your in-room tech and use that as a selling point, you could install a gym or spa, and put that at the forefront of your advertising. Or, you could go all out with differentiating features like themed rooms, self-service processes, or even partnerships with local restaurants.
# 3 - Shabby Service
Remember that service also makes a huge difference in a range of ways. For instance, customers will almost always choose your competitor over you if your online presence is littered with bad reviews. They’re also likely to run into your competitor’s arms if they can’t get hold of your team to make a reservation in the first place.
As such, you also need to prioritize staff training. A smiling, approachable team could quickly turbocharge your bookings, especially if they know how to provide frictionless experiences that are far better than anything from your competitors. It’s also well worth investing in 24/7 solutions like outsourced hotel call centers. These ensure that 100% of your calls are answered, making it way less likely that clients will ever hang up and try elsewhere.
Don’t make life easy for your competitors – fill your hotel using these top tips!
