How to differentiate your hotel from the competition with small gestures

Have you ever heard the saying "It's the little things that count"? This is also true in the hotel industry. Small gestures, like a welcome package upon arrival, can leave a lasting impression. In this article, we present four small gestures with which you can inspire your hotel guests and stand out from the competition.

The most important things at a glance

• Give returning guests a special welcome and a discount
• Provide your guests with hot drinks at any time, for example via coffee machines in the rooms or in the lobby
• Pre-book your guests and have basic bath and toiletries ready for them when they arrive
• Simplify booking on mobile devices and provide your guests with a hotel app

1. Reward your regular guests

Give returning guests a special welcome and honour their loyalty. Small gestures are enough, such as a bottle of wine or a bouquet of flowers in the rooms. You can also offer a discount to regular guests who visit your hotel several times a year. Discounts and vouchers, for example for a free massage, also go down well with guests.

2. Provide hot drinks around the clock

For many guests, a cup of coffee or tea is part of a successful morning. But not all guests start their day at the same time. To satisfy this need around the clock, you can equip each hotel room with its own coffee and tea machine. A cheaper alternative is to set up a beverage station in the lobby or other high-traffic areas of your hotel.

3. Equip the bathroom with bath and toiletries

Whether it's a toothbrush, hairdryer or towels - bath and toiletries are among the utensils that are often forgotten. To save your guests a trip to the nearest shop, you can already stock the bathroom with basic accessories. However, you can also hand over the items at the reception when the guests arrive. You can also use this opportunity to expand your branding, for example by having your logo printed on the bath products.

4. Offer a hotel app

Booking a hotel is no longer the same rigid process it used to be. Most travellers today use multiple devices to plan their stay, including tablets and smartphones. You should therefore optimise your website for mobile devices to make the booking process as easy as possible. If you want to go one step further, you can provide your guests with a hotel app.

You can use this to inform your guests, for example, about the opening and dining times of your establishment, as well as the current kitchen menu. Optimisation for mobile devices ultimately shows that your hotel is moving with the times and is focused on the user experience.