Millions of travelers opt to leave behind the stress of holiday entertaining in favor of holiday travel. Taking their revelry on the road means less prep, clean up and stress on the home front and the promise of creating new holiday traditions. With this is mind, SkyTouch Technology shares the following tips to help make getting away for the holidays the best gift of all for your hotel guests:
Create a festive “local” flavor. Provide your guests with an environment and experience that they can’t replicate at home. Infuse some distinctive local flavor into your property’s holiday décor by featuring decorations from local artisans or festive influences that reflect the local culture. Consider partnering with area businesses or vendors to provide carriage rides, light display tours, or other specialized holiday experiences. Guests will appreciate the opportunity to celebrate with local flair!
Be inclusive. Recognize that for many hotel guests, the holiday season encompasses multiple holiday traditions. Go beyond Christmas decorating to represent Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other seasonal multicultural traditions. Ensure that each guest feels appreciated by coaching hotel staff to be sensitive to the diversity of guests and the myriad of holiday traditions.
Offer “home for the holidays” touches. While your guests may have opted for a holiday getaway, they still may yearn for some traditional cheer, sans any effort on their part. Offer personal touches from home such as the chance to go caroling, hang stockings, and leave milk and cookies for Santa. In essence, look for ways to provide simple yet significant holiday comforts from home.
Be in the know. Ensure that guest-facing hotel staff are in the know when it comes to local holiday events. Research and compile a readily available list of nearby holiday happenings and recommendations. If possible, designate a “holiday concierge” to staff the lobby and be readily available to answer inevitable holiday requests and queries from guests.
Create a holiday haven. Spread the cheer by staging a buzzworthy holiday display or event in your lobby to draw out of town guests and locals alike. For example, host interactive nightly caroling, gingerbread displays, or Christmas storybook readings in the lobby. Consider using your hotel website and social media channels to promote these special on-premise events and be sure to share images of festive holiday decorations and displays that communicate the “wow” factor of spending the holiday season at your hotel property.
Use the above tips to create a festive and memorable holiday stay for hotel guests. In doing so, you’ll help to ensure that a return visit is on the top of their wishlist!
