Running a hotel or bed and breakfast can be hard work. On top of managing a team or doing everything on your own, from cooking and cleaning to greeting guests and taking bookings, you need to think about the future – growing your brand, increasing revenue and occupancy rates. Below, we’ve put together some useful resources to add to your Chrome bookmarks…
Graphic design tools
Being able to create a poster or social media graphic at the drop of a hat should be one of the most important parts about running your business. Tools like Canva are a great way to do exactly that – you can use their pre-built templates and customise them with your own colours and fonts to create a smart and professional look. Whether you’re hosting a special offer or an event in your hotel restaurant, these tools simply cannot be overstated. Use them!
Scheduling tools
Social media is a great way to promote your hotel and interact with guests, but on top of your daily duties, it can be tough to post quality content. Use a scheduling tool like Hootsuite or Buffer, and get social media post ideas for hotels so you’ve always got new content ideas.
Blogging tools
Blogging is another important tool in your digital marketing arsenal – so use it wisely and create regular content that guests will want to read. Whether it’s a “what to do when you’re in our town” or “5 things you should pack for a romantic weekend away,” there are tonnes of ways you can build a content marketing strategy around your business that will drive tonnes of organic traffic to your website – and all in no time at all!
Staffing tools
The chances are that you’re going to need to take on new staff from time to time – whether on a temporary basis or something more permanent. Add catering recruitment agencies to your bookmarks and make sure you’re on first-name terms with some of the best. That way, you’ll be able to get in touch and request a member of staff at the drop of a hat and have a professional staffer show up at your hotel in a few days’ time. Now it’s time for you to relax!
Booking tools
You’re already taking online bookings through third-party websites, but you should also add a booking form to your website so you don’t have to pay commission to sites like TripAdvisor and Booking.com. Upbooking, Skedda and Sagenda.com are free online booking portals and don’t charge a commission for using their services – implement one of those into your hotel website and you’ll save a fortune in no time at all. To encourage guests to book direct and not through booking partners, offer a small discount or a free gift when they arrive.
Organisational tools
Finally, add organisational tools like Google Drive and Sheets to your bookmarks so you can monitor absenteeism, store guest information, and create a set of notes or draft emails that you can use when responding to guests. For example, a guest might email and ask about your cancellation policy – rather than writing it out in full every time, you can prepare an email and copy and paste it whenever someone gets in touch. A great way to save some time!
These resources are a great way for you to save time, money, and create a more profitable and efficient business. We wish you the very best of luck with running your hotel.
