When on holiday, a lot of people prefer small places with a history and a personal touch. Guesthouses, apartments, B&Bs, and boutique hotels are getting more and more popular.
Guests like when you cater to their needs, and enjoy getting to know their hosts and the local culture. Having said that, many guests who choose these properties might not want to compromise on the hotel experience.
We’ve put together some tips, based on actual data, to make sure your guests feel most welcome while you generate revenue for yourself. Make sure you include the best local businesses.
Room upgrades
According to our data for boutique hotels and similar properties, about 20% of the guests are willing to pay an extra 15-20 euros per night for a room with a view or balcony, or some extra space. These upgrades make up approximately 30% of extra revenue in such properties.
Be creative with the title of your room upgrade. People are more likely to take it when it’s presented as: “A guaranteed beach view for only 15 € extra”
Breakfast
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you are not already offering it, this would be a great thing to upsell.
After having a warm cup of coffee or tea and a full stomach, your guests will definitely leave your premises with a smile on their face. Try to do something simple; for example, arrange delivery from a local bakery, and set up a selection of regional cheeses and jams for a local, homemade touch.
You can also put together a breakfast to go package with a cup of coffee for those who have an early flight.
Romantic touches
If you manage one of those places where couples go for a getaway, this is definitely something for you. Selling cakes, bonbons, fruit or cheese platters always performs well.
Optionally you can arrange balloons, bouquets, roses or rose petals on the bed for those who wish to surprise their significant other.
You can also go all out and combine these in a birthday/romantic package for a higher price.
According to our data, bottles of champagne and wine also sell well, account for about 28% of extra revenue.
Transportation and tours
Your guests often fly to your location, and some might prefer to take a taxi to your establishment. This is the perfect opportunity to partner with a transfer service.
Additionally, if you are managing a hotel in a more remote area, you might want to couple up with a car hire company so your guests can go and explore themselves.
If your property is in a historic area, for example, add a tour to the local must-see sites, or ask a company to pick up your guests at your premises.
The little things
These are the little things that you could provide for a small fee that would just make your guests’ stay that much better. Who wouldn’t want to slip into a soft bathrobe and fluffy slippers while sipping coffee or tea with a selection of local cookies after a day of wandering in town?
You can also provide a pre-packed local delicacies package which your guests can purchase and consume while they are on holiday or take home as a gift.
For the real fancy ones, you switch your go-to soap and shampoo to some local ‘deluxe’ skincare products.
Early check-in and late check-out are also great options for easily increasing revenue.
Remember – managing a small property doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from offering your guests products and services to enhance their stay with you.
At GuestJoy, we’re experts in helping all types of properties maximise their upsell potential, so talk to us if you’re ready to unlock all this potential revenue now