It is essential to understand your target audience and crush your marketing strategy. Providing the right type of monetized amenities or services will help you get your hotel guests to spend more. But there is another crucial part of the equation: the right technology.
Before they ever set foot on your Property, inspire your guests to spend more. Your website should be appealing to potential guests by offering great photos of rooms, attractive package deals, and enhanced experiences (from activities to in-room extras).
Next, make it easy for your guests to spend. Here’s how:
Your Property’s website allows you to sell packages and add-ons
Travellers are always open to new ways to enhance their leisure travel experience. You can promote ancillary products or services on your website to encourage impulse spending. A website booking engine allows customers to book special packages and add-ons whenever they feel the need.
A revenue-driving booking engine allows you to sell packages and set up reservations options, such as a cheese platter, cocktail-making stations or yoga gear. These can be attached to specific rates or room types. Guests can also choose add-on services at booking time to personalize their stay.
Automated offers that are well-targeted and timed
A discount for couples at your spa won’t work well with a single business guest. Your offers will be more effective if they are more relevant. Your property management system (PMS) holds the key to targeted guest communications. Booking confirmations, pre-arrival and check-in emails can be triggered by guest and reservation data. This is based on the reservation date and the rate and unit types booked. Your PMS data can send the right offers at the right times to the right guests. A pre-arrival email template could include the option to book a discounted couples massage. This could be an example of a romance package. For eligible rooms, confirmation emails could include room upgrade offers.
When integrated with your CRM or guest messaging apps, your PMS data can power highly targeted guest communications and fully automated offers throughout the guest journey.
Timing and targeting are crucial when it comes to upselling. Conversions will come if you focus on the guest experience and not the hard sell.
PMS + POS Integration
Your PMS handles room sales while your POS (point of sale) system handles ancillary sales such as restaurant, spa, and gift shop purchases. They work together to automate charging guests for ancillary purchases via a mechanical connection. This connection allows the POS to query the PMS when a sale is made automatically. The PMS verifies that the guest has checked in and their room number. It also approves the charge. This is done in real-time to the PMS reservation folio.
Automating incidental charges to guest rooms improves billing accuracy, prevents lost revenue, and makes guests feel more comfortable by having one bill. This eliminates manual billing errors and reduces frustration. PMS+POS integration creates a seamless guest experience, taking the stress out of spending on property.
Safe spending
Last but not least, guests should feel comfortable spending in your hotel. It would be best if you offer secure payment options.
SSL encryption is a way to ensure your guests’ data are safe online. SSL encryption displays a padlock icon in your URL address bar, indicating that your page is secure. It also integrates with a PCI-compliant payment gateway.