Here are our four tips you should really focus on for your hotel and venue, focusing on how you can get through this with a healthy order book!
Tip one: The leisure market has been a beehive of activity, it’s just tapping into it to get the honey
The UK leisure market is set to BOOM this year with travel abroad bamboozling even the experts with traffic light systems galore, but you need to set yourself out from a crowded marketplace. Boutique Hotelier reported that 83% of tourists would prefer to holiday in the UK to travel abroad this year.
The same research identified that the guest experience has evolved! Cleanliness has always been a key priority but respondents of The Cumberland, the Research Without Barriers survey found that 57% of 1,015 respondents wanted good views, followed by outdoor space/gardens, then came close to the beach and somewhere secluded and private! You can view the findings from their survey here.
Many UK city centres are finding it hard to welcome guests back through their doors. One idea is to think about the customer touchpoints on their journey to the hotel or venue; How might they get to you and how could technology play a role to make them contactless?
Tip two: We’ve been out of the office and boardroom for FAR too long
At CHS we have always been a remote working company, but our best ideas come from when we are together on our away days. Have you considered an away day package, a 24 Day Delegate Rate, explaining the benefits and how you keep them safe too. Yes, they might have offices where they could meet, but it isn’t the same backdrop, nor has it got the facilities that will really stimulate the mind and energise!
Furthermore, what tech do you have on offer? Can you offer an upgraded package to bring more delegates into the room via Zoom and webcam? Do you have smartboards or projectors? You might consider working with an AV company for additional ancillary services.
Tip three: Keep in touch with existing customers
It is far less expensive to retain a customer than to attract a new one! David Eisen, Director of Hotel Intelligence and Customer Solutions for HotStats explains that “Crisis is unavoidable but in the long run, customer satisfaction can drive profit higher at a lower cost to hoteliers. In fact, it’s five times less expensive to keep an existing customer than it is to attract a new one. That’s why effective service recovery is critical to long-term profit.”
Tip four: Get back to basics and practice the art of getting in touch with your corporate clients
Recently, our very own Emma Cartmell took part in an industry panel and explained that whilst the conferencing and meeting industry isn’t up to max capacity (if at all any), many providers have lost the art of keeping in contact with their corporate clients.
“It means so much to reach out and get in touch with your corporate client base; now more than ever – the personal touch goes a very long way.”
Many of us are still working from home, and hearing from a friendly associate, having a little chat or even inviting them for a familiarisation of a property and a coffee can go a very long way. And the very big plus is that you’ll be at the top of the list once it comes to planning conferences and meetings again!”
Key takeaways
- The leisure market is crowded but booming, can you take advantage?
- Map out the customer journey, are there ways you can improve it and shine out from the competition?
- Utilise and maximise 24-hour Day Delegate Rates
- It is far less expensive to retain than to attract new customers, keep this in mind and keep in touch!
- Very similar to the above but keep in regular contact with your TOP corporate contacts, contacting them by phone or email to check-in and see how they are getting on and how you could help them
Do you have a tip that you’d like to share with the CHS Community? Tweet us @CHS_Group or comment on our blog below!