This holiday season is going to be a busy one for hotels! While many people put off plans for 2020 holiday travel because of the pandemic, it seems that in 2021 people are more eager than ever to visit family, meet up with friends, and explore new destinations.
In order to attract the booming business of travelers and ensure that they have a memorable experience, here are 5 ways to prepare your hotel for the holidays:
1. Invest in Early Marketing
It’s common knowledge that the holiday season is a busy time for traveling, so people often look to book their flights and hotels early. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve travel, make sure that people searching for a place to stay can find your hotel. This may mean increasing marketing budgets on hotel discovery sites, setting up special promotions, etc.
2. Assess Safety and Sanitation Policies
Even though travel is picking up again, Covid-19 is still a concern for many. To keep both guests and hotel staff feeling safe, create a clear safety and sanitation plan and ensure that it’s communicated early and often to all staff and guests. You may want to consider a written document that explains, for example, when a face covering or mask is required, and post it on elevator doors as a frequent reminder.
3. Stock Up on Amenities
As mentioned above, sanitation is still a high priority for guests, so stocking up on hand sanitizer will be necessary. In addition, take some time to look into what other amenities your hotel could choose to offer to help enhance guest experiences. For example, are there umbrellas available for a sudden rainstorm or water bottles in the gym for those that want to squeeze in a quick workout?
4. Consider Appropriate Decorations
When traveling for the holidays, people often expect cozy, festive decorations. This can mean a big Christmas tree in the center of the lobby or more understated twinkle lights throughout the hotel. Perhaps you even switch up the decorations between holidays. Bigger is not always better, but it is important to have a decoration plan that fits the unique aesthetic and vibe of your hotel.
5. Prepare a Cleaning Plan
More guests means more mess. To keep your hotel looking spotlessly clean, find a local cleaning company that aligns well with your needs and preferences. If you are in the Nashville, TN area, Nashville BHS is the leading expert in hotel and hospitality cleaning services. By prioritizing communication and reliability, as well as extreme attention to detail, Nashville BHS guarantees that its clients are satisfied with the cleanliness of their hotel each and every day.
There’s no doubt that the next few months will be busy for hotels, especially if they are using their marketing power correctly. By implementing a clear safety and sanitation plan, decorating appropriately, offering high-quality amenities, and keeping the hotel impeccably clean, hotel owners and managers can take advantage of this fun and busy season to attract new guests and turn them into lifelong fans.
