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The hospitality industry was among those that were hit the hardest by the pandemic, and even though things are looking up, the effects are still being felt.

According to statistics, about 50% of all hotel rooms in the US were projected to be empty in 2021. Despite that, people are more than eager to get on with their lives, and that includes traveling. Especially traveling.

This presents an opportunity for you not just to make up for some of the lost revenue but also to make the most of what you have to offer to your guests. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five strategies that can help you grow your hospitality business.

1. Elevate Your Customer Experience

There is plenty of competition in the hospitality industry, which is why you need to make sure you can offer more to your guests for the same kind of money. It can be anything from having well-trained and pleasant staff to listening to customer feedback. You can do the latter directly or by checking out customer reviews on third-party websites such as Yelp, Glassdoor, and Google Reviews, as well as platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com if you are using their services.

it is also essential to use high quality products, like these contract beds for hotels. The better night’s sleep a customer is, the higher the chance of them returning and spreading the word. Invest in comfort and you will reap the benefits. 

By keeping or improving service quality, you will be able to keep your old guests as well as attract new ones by showing that you can offer more than your competitors.

2. Leverage the Power of Technology

Most customers want a break from just about everything on their vacation – except technology. They’ll definitely need Wi-Fi to stay in touch with people back home and post those vacation pics to their social media accounts.

You, on the other hand, can utilize technology to simplify things and make their stay more pleasant. For example, you can enable contactless check-in or meal ordering via an app. You can also build a platform to make it possible for your guests to book their stay online. Low-tech stuff also works. For example, you can offer golf cart rentals or electric scooters so your customers can get around the property with ease.

3. Boost Your Online Presence

Apart from being on a platform like Airbnb or even having your own app through which guests can book a stay, your online presence should also include an up-to-date website and active social media accounts. Your website is your guests’ first contact with your business, so make sure that it works and looks great, especially on mobile devices.

As for social media, make sure to research where your customers hang out online, which is most likely Facebook and Instagram. Then, start posting on a regular basis and engaging them with useful content. It can expose your hospitality business to a whole new audience, which might become your guests.

4. Upsell Your Services

Maximizing profit using the resources you have is crucial in these unstable times, and upselling is one of the best ways to do that. This can be anything from offering a room that is slightly pricier but offers a better view, getting guests to check out the dessert menu during dinner at your restaurant, or simply convincing them to stay an extra day or two.

Of course, in order to achieve this and make a bigger profit, you also need to give visitors more by creating an outstanding experience for them. And in order to keep that experience pleasant and non-intrusive as you are trying to upsell, you can also get your staff to take training courses on sales and upselling.

5. Target Local Customers

Targeting visitors from your local area and the region might seem a bit counterintuitive in the hospitality industry, but it is actually a smart move. Sure, guests from all over the globe are an obvious target, but in the current situation, those global visitors might be less likely to travel. Also, with more and more people opting for staycations and workcations – and thus exploring options in their vicinity – you have a chance to meet their needs.

You can utilize both online and offline marketing for promotion, and make sure to adjust your prices to make your business more attractive to the locals.

In Closing

Despite the less than favorable situation in the world and the hospitality industry, you can still keep your business stable and even grow it. Try these strategies and tweaks to help you not only adapt but actually make the most of the situation. Good luck!

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