Monday Motivation: 17 Hotel Services You Should Offer Beyond Turndown Service
The amount of lodging options available to travelers is higher than ever before. In order for a hotel to stand out, it not only has to have the basic rooms and amenities but also luxurious services. We’ve compiled a list of 17 of the most popular hotel service trends for you to implement at your property, and start booking more rooms!
Explore New & Creative Hotel Services to Offer with Real Examples
Find the inspiration you need with these great hotel service trends, and the brands who are bringing them to life best.
1. Create One-of-a-Kind Style Experiences
Go beyond renting rooms and give your guests a personal fashion adventure they won’t forget.
For example, Bulgari Hotels’ Milan location offers shopping experiences where it books private appointments or private viewings with the area’s most famous boutiques for its guests. The historic Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver provides a wardrobe consultant for those who book the Rosewood Royal Suite. The consultant will coordinate looks from the guests’ wardrobes as well as provide shopping services.
Also, Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin offers private, in-room styling services by a local luxury boutique.
2. Offer Unique Hotel Transportation Assistance
Enhance your customers’ traveling experience by offering exclusive transportation options. This service presents a unique opportunity to set your hotel apart from your competition, regardless of if your guests only need transportation to your location or a ride around town.
Those who book the Grand Deluxe Three-Bedroom Oceanfront Suite at the Acqualina Resort & Spa are given the rare chance to drive a Rolls-Royce Ghost – a vehicle with a sticker price that starts at over $300,000. If that’s a little out of your budget, consider making your shuttle service more convenient using Uber for Business’ Uber Central like Twenty Four Seven Hotels.
3. Provide Exclusive Hotel Photo Opportunities
If someone goes on an exciting trip and doesn’t post pictures of it on social media, did the trip really happen? We’re being playful with this, but your guests will appreciate an opportunity to take a unique photo at your hotel that they can treasure and share with their friends and family. These photos also serve as free promotion for your property when they are posted to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
For example, those who stay in the Fenway Suite at Boston’s Commonwealth Hotel get the opportunity to take a selfie with one of the Red Sox’s three World Series trophies.
4. Create Super Personalized Hotel Amenities
Demonstrate to your customers that you value their individual qualities by providing amenities that are suited to their specific dreams and desires.
The Viceroy Riviera Maya sends a Soap Concierge to each villa so their short-term residents may handpick one of the fragrant, organic soaps to use during their stay. The One&Only Palmilla Resort in Los Cabos gives guests a sewing kit tailored to their wardrobe in case of fashion mishaps.
5. Provide Upscale Relaxation Activities at Hotels
No matter what their reason for staying at your hotel, travelers will crave an opportunity to relax and unwind. Treat them to the epitome of luxury with deluxe experiences.
If your hotel is located in an art-hub, take note of the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende’s clever idea. They offer private painting easels to those who stay in select suites or private residences so they can tap into their creative side. The Westin Austin Downtown demonstrates its commitment to relaxation and entertainment by offering unique packages, such as a Guitar Rockstar package which includes in-room guitars. Guests of Twin Farms in Barnard, Vermont can work on intricate, locally-made puzzles by a roaring fire.
6. Offer Above and Beyond Concierge Services
A hotel concierge can do more than just make local recommendations, book transportation, and make reservations. Assist your guests beyond their expectations with unique services. These services can be tailored to revolve around the main selling points of your hotel for extra emphasis.
For example, the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans offers a hangover recovery concierge, which is perfect for Bourbon Street partiers. The Lodge at Sea Island in Georgia offers a 24-hour butler service so guests can request whatever their hearts desire at any time. Also, Jet Lag Gurus aid with overcoming travel fatigue so long distance travelers can enjoy their trip when they stay at the Waldorf Astoria.
7. Offer VIP Gifts
Unexpected gifts are always a pleasant surprise. Treat your customers with an exclusive present to demonstrate how much their patronage means to you.
The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, Italy is well known for its extremely personalized gifts. The property once gifted personalized jerseys to a group of American children. The Otesaga Resort in Cooperstown, NY delights guests by surprising them with wine or an assortment of truffles in their room upon check-in.
8. Offer A-to-Z Themed Experiences
To conserve your resources, pick a themed experience for your hotel and implement other experiences rooted in the same elements.
The rooftop beehives at the Towers of Waldorf Astoria are a perfect demonstration of this concept. Small groups can book a package that allows them to explore the beehives and the hotel incorporates the honey into their three-course lunch of honey-infused dishes.
9. Provide Updated Pillow Chocolates
Placing chocolates on pillows is a classic gesture to indicate your appreciation for those who choose to stay with you. Traditions can be expanded upon, though, to give your guests a one-of-a-kind treatment.
The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel is presenting attendees of celebrations with a special chocolate bar imprinted with an impression of the R.J. Reynolds building that’s dusted with gold. The Caldwell House Bed & Breakfast offered a limited time Pie On the Pillow treat where guests were given homemade mini-pies made from local ingredients. A variety of favorite pie types were available to choose from, including peach, blueberry, pecan and apple pie.
10. Include Complimentary Hotel Technology
Travelers expect complimentary WiFi and Smart TVs no matter what hotel they stay at. Exceed their expectations by offering other top of the line gadgets.
Dorsett Mongkok in Hong Kong provides every room with a complimentary smartphone that has very convenient features. It makes unlimited local calls as well as unlimited international calls to China, the USA, Canada, Singapore, and other countries so guests can have a seamless travel experience.
11. Include Kid-Friendly Surprises
If children have a great time at your hotel, so will their parents! Delight the young ones with unique experiences just for them.
Great Wolf Lodge provides special wolf ears to children to wear on their birthday. The Chatwal in New York gives children the chance to dress up as their favorite character in one of Broadway’s running shows by allowing those who stay in the one-bedroom suites to borrow a trunk filled with stage worthy costumes.
12. Offer Furry Friend Perks at Hotels
More and more businesses are becoming pet-friendly which will increase the opportunity for pet owners to travel with their four-legged friends.
Cater to their needs by providing treats, water bowls, and dog beds as well as grooming and walking services. Make sure pets leave your hotel in style wearing a branded bandana, like the Virgin Hotels in San Francisco do.
13. Provide Exclusive Hotel Space Access
Offer access to spaces that are unlike anything else to increase your bookings. Use of these spaces could be secured by an additional fee or provided complimentary for added value.
Aqua-Aston Hotels offers guests the opportunity to stay in a secret penthouse at some of their Hawaii properties if the reservation is made over the phone. AKA Sutton in New York City provides access to wine lockers that are private and climate-controlled.
14. Offer Unique Fitness Experiences
People want to adhere to their health and fitness routines even when they are traveling. Your customers may compare your exercise opportunities to other hotels when booking somewhere to stay, so offer experiences that will wow them.
Rosewood Hotel Georgia offers fitness-minded people private cycling tours with their managing director, Philip Meyer, when they stay at the Rosewood Royal Suite. Club Med in Punta Cana gives vacationers the chance to pretend they are in the circus and get a good workout thanks to their Cirque Du Soleil classes. Westin Hotels are looking to offer guests the opportunity to join running groups led by a running concierge.
15. Provide Local Area Perks
Showcase your city’s charm and allow your guests to be immersed in your local culture. Connecting them to the area via storytelling or unique experiences will keep them coming back for more.
Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts partner with cultural centers around the world to provide complimentary access to art galleries and institutions through their Unlock Art program. The Palmer House Hilton has a Hotel Historian on staff who is in charge of telling riveting tales of the hotel’s journey since it opened its doors in 1871.
16. Create An Elevated Check-In/Check-Out Process
The idea of checking in or out of a hotel can be stressful. One may picture waiting for considerable amounts of time in a long line and being waited on by unhelpful staff. Overcome this negative impression by offering benefits during these times to make the start or end of your guests’ stay enjoyable.
For example, Las Ventanas al Paraiso offers welcome massages during the check-in process.
17. Include Beauty Amenities
Give guests the opportunity to put their best face forward and discover their new favorite beauty products by offering exclusive beauty amenities.
WestHouse New York partners with Nomi Beauty to pamper customers with in-room hair and makeup services. Patrons can be comforted by the fact that right before their big event or meeting, someone will be available to make sure they look flawless.
Ready to win-over new guests with even more amazing perks?
Now that you’ve got some successful service ideas to implement for your hotel, check out some strategies to improve the check-in process for groups, and increase your property’s curb appeal to attract more group bookings.