On one particular business trip, Bob stayed in four different cities in one week, all at various versions of a well-known hotel chain. Upon his first check-in, he was automatically handed a cookie “for being a loyal guest.” Bob felt special. But by the fourth check-in, the cookie bit was getting old. And everyone was [...]
Guests no longer have to opt for "points" over "personality" due to growing trend of boutique hotels and independent hotels offering hotel loyalty programs. Tired of forfeiting guests to big brand loyalty programs, a growing number of independent and boutique hotels are going head-to-head with major chains by offering their own guest loyalty programs. The [...]
Boutique and independent hotel guests are a different breed of customer, typically favoring exclusivity over consistency. They seek a unique, one-of-a-kind guest service and experience over the familiarity of a chain hotel stay. The good news is that because they are unrestricted by "big brand" standards, independent and boutique hotels are well-suited to deliver on [...]
In the competitive hospitality marketplace, hotel customer service is a clear differentiator. And every property should make exceptional hotel customer service their end-goal. Big properties benefit from internal customer service programs to help staff deliver consistently great hotel customer service. But what are smaller hotel brands to do? Following are guidelines that both boutique and [...]
Meet one of the newest categories of hotel guests – the "bleisure" traveler. Already well-known throughout Asia and Latin America, the bleisure traveler is becoming more prevalent in North America. Get to know their traits and learn what your hotel can do to target and attract the business of this "hybrid" customer segment. Who is [...]
A Deloitte study of hotel loyalty shook up the industry by revealing that only 8 percent of respondents were completely loyal to the same hotel brand. Gasp! Are hotel loyalty programs still worth the cost to hoteliers? Or are there better ways to woo and retain customers? The Deloitte study appears to suggest that a [...]
Hoteliers take note! Millennials – also known as the "NOW" Generation -- will account for nearly half of the workforce by 2020. And they are truly a force to be reckoned with “NOW.” Hoteliers who can understand and address their unique needs and purchasing habits will have a clear competitive advantage in reaching this savvy [...]
