People book hotel stays for a wide variety of reasons. Some may be travelling for business, while others are looking for the perfect place to relax and rest after a long day of sightseeing. Whatever the reason, it is safe to assume that the services and amenities a hotel offers guests can significantly affect the quality of their stay, both positively and negatively.
Whether you create personalised welcome gifts, expand your services to include partnerships with local businesses or invest in espresso machines for each guest room, elevating your guest amenities to a luxurious new level doesn’t need to break the bank.
Personalised Welcome Gifts
An easy but incredibly effective and personalised service to offer your guests is creating welcome gifts. During the booking process, establish the nature of their stay, whether for business, a family vacation or a fun-filled bachelorette party, and create a small welcoming basket with local goodies to make their trip more comfortable and homely.
If they are travelling with kids or their pets, include kid-friendly treats, toys, or books. For pet-friendly guests, provide a comfortable dog bed, a small selection of pet treats, and bowls for food and water. You don’t need to spend a fortune on top-of-the-range offerings, but the extra effort is a thoughtful surprise that any guest will be thrilled to discover when they get to their rooms.
Smart Room Technology
User-friendly tablets are a fantastic and innovative addition to in-room amenities. They allow your guests to completely control all room settings, such as lighting, entertainment, temperature, curtains, and communication, dramatically improving overall comfort and convenience. These tablets can also include more information about the hotel and local attractions and services, helping them better plan their stay. This personalisation tool allows your guests to perfectly tailor their environment to their needs, ensuring they are at their most comfortable and content.
Additionally, high-speed and reliable Wi-Fi is no longer considered a luxury but rather a necessity for most travellers. Many select their hotel stays purely on the availability of a fast and seamless connection. By prioritising this service, you enhance your guests’ overall experience and build loyalty and positive word-of-mouth recommendations.
On-Demand Entertainment Systems
Offering on-demand movies and advanced entertainment systems in all guest rooms is a fantastic and convenient in-room experience that will boost their overall stay. By allowing your guests to relax and unwind after a long day of travelling, activities or work commitments, you significantly enhance their overall comfort and satisfaction.
Alternatively, if you typically attract more families or older clientele, it may be worthwhile providing in-room board games or video games as opposed to a full entertainment set-up. Should space allow, you can dedicate a separate room to board and video games that guests can visit throughout the day.
Premium Bedding
One of the simplest yet most effective investments you can make to elevate a guest’s experience is premium bedding. High-thread-count sheets, premium duvets, and a selection of comfortable pillows guarantee a good night’s sleep in ultimate comfort.
A study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation revealed that 78% of travellers stated that comfortable bedding was the most crucial factor in restful sleep and would select a hotel that prioritises sleep quality. Global hotel chains like Marriott ensure that their guests are offered this by providing their signature bedding, which includes high-quality linens, hypoallergenic pillows, and plush mattresses.
Spa Services
Providing spa services, whether in-house treatments or through partnerships with local establishments, is a fantastic way to introduce a new level of luxury to hotel guests. In-house or in-room treatments add an extra layer of personalisation and convenience, helping guests feel well-cared for in the comfort of their rooms.
Alternatively, developing partnerships with popular local spas can offer guests exclusive discounted services and packagers with reliable and high-quality businesses, ensuring a premium and memorable experience.
In-Room Drink Carts
Whether it is a well-stocked bar cart filled with all the ingredients you need to whip up a selection of popular drinks, a modest mini-bar or a built-in cocktail station, providing a range of drink selections gives your guests an alternative option to going out, allowing them to make the most of their hotel stay. Offer your guests a one-time payment for all the drinks and snacks they want. To accommodate all your guests, ensure they are aware of the bar cart service during booking, with the option to have it removed or stocked with non-alcoholic offerings should it not align with their needs.
Alternatively, you can elevate the humble tea and coffee station found in nearly all hotel rooms by expanding the selection to include a variety of different teas and coffees. This will create a cosy and inviting atmosphere where guests can enjoy their favourite beverages. Consider investing in good-quality and affordable coffee makers and kettles that are placed in every room, along with complimentary tea, coffee, sugar, and milk.
Snack Baskets
Provide a selection of snacks and drinks from local businesses to give all guests, especially those from out of town, a taste of your city. This is the perfect opportunity to highlight your destination’s delicious and unique food scene while offering your guests an unexpected treat to elevate their stay.
Provide menus, brochures, and other information pamphlets about popular restaurants, food markets, and other food scenes that guests can visit. Alongside a grab-and-go snack station, this small addition to the room will enhance the overall quality of their experience.