I feel like every now and then I get carried away with the words and making this blog eloquent. Well, not today, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have something helpful for your weekend!
1) Welcome Package- Go to your local chamber of commerce and create a discount package that incentivizes guests to dine and shop at local small businesses.
2) Offer Maps- Google maps is incredibly easy to link with your business. Make sure on your website you have a map listing local attractions so prospective guests can see how awesome it would be to stay with you
3) Create better packages not lower prices- Take a page out of the Zappos play book and offer a better package not the lowest price. Consumers today will look at getting more for their buck as better than getting less for less. Gas cards, public transit passes, restaurant coupons are just a few examples but be creative and run with it.
4) Build loyalty- Offer incentive for repeat guests. This plays a large role for families and group reservations, incentivize them to come back. It was hard enough to get them the first time, how could you not offer something to give you the leg up on their next transaction?
5) Know the guest- You obviously don’t know every person that walks through your doors, but you need to know as much as you can about them in order to serve them best. Use your property management software to document what your guests like, where they want to go, and what they like to do. Then tap into that information when the guests come to your office, or when you are looking to bring guests back to you at a future date.
6) Be proud of guests- How many guests walk through your doors each year? Despite all of those happy customers, how many of them are pictured on your Facebook page? Most companies show off their homes and properties, not the experience they offer, be the latter.
7) Don’t hide your flaws- We all have them, we all hide them too, but if you are looking to book a vacation people always consider the what if’s. What if this place isn’t so great? What if the rooms are dirty? If you let them know your strengths and weaknesses, it stops the mind from wandering and they can focus on the positive.
8) Be yourself- People don’t book vacation homes because they want a hotel experience. They are looking for what you have to offer so embrace that, and offer that.
Well, the sun is out, the birds are chirping and it is about time for me to bike home for a great New England weekend. Have a great weekend everyone!
