The hospitality industry is one of the most profitable niches to work within, whether you are running a luxurious boutique hotel or something a little more relaxed and casual.

However, it is also a highly competitive field. This is because you always have to be on top of your game in order to keep your guests happy, score excellent reviews, and enhance your reputation. With that in mind, here are some strategies that you can implement to ensure your hotel is a success.

Simple Tricks to Make Your Hotel Stand Out

1. Create the perfect hotel room

To ensure your hotel is a success, designing the perfect hotel room will help set you on the path toward success. This is because it’s the space that your guests will spend the most time in (and what they will base the majority of their review on). While you can afford to keep the layout relatively sleek and simple, keep your eye out for subtle ways in which you can enhance the space. For example, this could include installing in-room speakers or mood lighting.

2. Put your customer first

Putting your customers first and offering excellent customer service will also ensure that your hotel remains open for years to come. This is because it has a significant influence on the reviews you receive, and 80% of travellers will read reviews before booking.

Fortunately, there are a few different ways in which you can make sure you are running a customer-centric business.

To ensure your hotel is a success, begin by prioritizing exceptional customer service at every touchpoint. Whether that is during check-in or when interacting with guests making use of your facilities. For example, you should encourage them to be polite, courteous and friendly, while also being attentive to each guest’s individual needs. You should also ensure that they can de-escalate customers who may be unhappy or frustrated. This can help to prevent bad reviews from flooding in, while also ensuring that the guests are as happy as possible during their time at your hotel.

In addition to this, you should also find small ways to show your guests your appreciation. For example, this could include leaving a small welcome gift in their room.

3. Pay close attention to your reviews

To ensure your hotel is a success, paying close attention to any reviews you receive (positive or negative) can also make it easier to ensure that your hotel is a resounding success. This is because it will provide you with a sense of direction when it comes to attending to the ever-changing needs of your guests, or things that you may be doing wrong.

For example, if you notice the same complaints coming up again and again, then this is a clear sign that you need to take action and make changes.

4. Keep your hotel clean

Cleanliness is also incredibly important within the hospitality industry, which means that it is an area in which you cannot afford to cut corners. This goes beyond making sure that the rooms are free from dust and dirt; you also need to ensure that you’re able to stay on top of your laundry. After all, many hotel guests expect their bedding to be changed on a daily basis, which can be hard to keep up with without having the right equipment to hand. This means that you should make sure you invest in a commercial washer and dryer ahead of time.

5. Make sure your hotel features on numerous listing sites

In an ideal world, all of your bookings would come directly through your website. After all, this means that you do not have to give third-party providers a cut of your earnings. However, it will likely take a little while for you to build a strong enough reputation to receive this kind of organic traffic, and the majority of travellers prefer to use sites such as booking.com as an intermediary.

Therefore, to ensure your hotel is a success and maximize bookings, list your property on multiple booking platforms. Make sure that you include high-quality photographs and detailed descriptions of your hotel and amenities, as this will help you gain as much attention as possible while also showcasing your hotel in the best possible light.

6. Build a strong website

While you should expect the majority of your bookings to come in through the channels referenced above, this does not mean that you can scrape by with a lacklustre, dated website. After all, this often seems to suggest a lack of professionalism and care, both of which could encourage a potential customer to look elsewhere. As such, you should make sure that you’re running a high-quality website that shows off everything that you have to offer.

In addition to this, the stronger the website itself is, the easier it will be for customers to stumble across it. This is because it means that you can ‘trick’ the algorithm to work in your favor, meaning that you will start to appear in more searches. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by using SEO best practices when curating content, whether that’s a blog post or descriptions of your rooms.

If this is something that you tend to struggle with or know very little about, hiring a web designer and content writer could be useful. While it may eat into your budget a little, it will provide you with the strong foundation you need to build a business that genuinely excels.

7. Offer a range of on-site amenities

To ensure your hotel is a success, providing guests with ample amenities is crucial. This is because it makes your hotel a nicer place to stay. There are a few different options to consider here, based on your budget or the size of your facilities. For example, you could operate an on-site:

• Bar


• Restaraunt


• Coffee Shop


• Gym


• Spa and sauna


• Pool and hot tub

Figuring out exactly who your target audience is will make it easier to determine which amenities are right for your facility. For example, those travelling for work may prefer to dine at on-site restaurants rather than travelling further afield, especially after a busy or stressful day.

8. Incentivize spending time at the hotel

Many travellers will view their hotel as a place to sleep as opposed to spending significant time there during the day, especially if their hotel is located within a busy city. However, this means that you are missing out on potential earnings. While providing them with access to the amenities mentioned above is a great starting point in this regard, you can also incentivize spending time (and money) at the hotel by offering them discounted rates on things such as meals, drinks and spa packages. This is because you are giving them more reason to stick around, especially if they are travelling on a budget.

9. Make your hotel unique

As mentioned above, the hospitality industry is incredibly competitive. With thousands of hotels opening up and down the country every year, it can be hard to encourage holidaymakers or travellers to give you a chance, especially when you’re up against more-established chains that they know or recognize.

One crucial strategy to ensure your hotel is a success in this competitive landscape is to cultivate a unique identity. After all, this will make it much easier for you to stand out from the crowd, which could give you the edge you need over your biggest competitors. There are many different ways in which you can make sure your business is unique. For example, you may want to choose a specific theme or interior design style, or focus on a specific niche.

Final thoughts

Whether your hotel is located in a cozy, countryside town or on the coast, there are plenty of steps that you can take that will ensure your business becomes a long-lasting success. This means that you will be able to welcome guest through the door for years to come.

Fortunately, there are many different ways in which you can achieve this goal. This includes:

• Creating and designing the perfect hotel rooms so that your guests are always comfortable.


• Putting your customers first and making sure that their every last need is attended to.


• Pay close attention to your reviews, so that you know as quickly as possible about how many changes you need to make.


• Keep your hotel clean, tidy and organized at all times.


• Make sure that you are featured across numerous listing sites in order to ensure that you get as many bookings as possible, especially during quieter periods or seasons.


• Build a strong website that will help you to climb the search engine rankings and get noticed online.


• Offering a range of on-site amenities that make your hotel more appealing.


• Incentivising spending time at the hotel, such as by providing guests with access to exclusive discounts for your facilities and amenities.


• Finding ways to make your hotel as unique as possible.

By following the steps outlined above, you can make sure that your hotel is the best hotel around!