October 2012 - American Hotel Blog

Prepare Your Property For The Winter Months

October 22, 2012

The onset of fall means it’s time to prepare for the change in seasons! From getting rooms up to par and ready for cool weather to planning for holiday décor and events, the winter months bring ample opportunity to impress guests with getting the subtle details right.

Something as simple as providing pumpkin spice coffee or peppermint hot cocoa in the lobby can be a warm welcome to guests coming in from the cold. Depending on the holiday, tasteful décor can also really put guests in the festive spirit. Use fall gords and squashes, neutral colors and dried autumn flowers in the weeks leading up to Halloween and Thanksgiving. Crisp pine scents, poinsettias, and simple accents of gold and silver can be used during December. It’s important to stay tasteful and subtle with décor – remember that less is often more.

When it comes to guest rooms, comfort is key. Make sure you have satisfactory heating devices, bedding and comforters.Providing plush robes and slippers for your guests can really be a pleasant surprise. Have any windows that aren’t directly accessible? Cover them with plastic coating. Extra insulation can go a long way towards saving on heating bills, and can help keep guest rooms warm and cozy.

We’re sure you’re already feeling the crisp air, so get started now. Browse our website to see how you can ensure a warm, welcoming, and festive holiday vacation for your guests this year.

Smartphones and the Hospitality Industry

October 12, 2012

smartphones and hospitality

The New York Times estimated that by 2016, over one billion people will own a smartphone. It seems that every few months a sleeker, better phone is released – while older models get less expensive and more accessible. We are no doubt experiencing the beginning of a smartphone boom – and what does that mean for the future of the hotel and hospitality industry?

From researching, booking and reviewing hotels – smartphones play a vital role. Today’s on-the-go lifestyle means that your hotel’s website, Facebook account and competitive prices will be accessed via smartphone more than ever before. When a guest arrives at your property, a large percentage of them will “check-in” via Foursquare, Facebook or another social site – making your page then visible to all of their friends and followers. Hotels seeking a competitive edge definitely need to ensure their online channels and search engine marketing are in top shape.

The number of mobile bookings in the travel space has accelerated from $20 million in 2008 to over $200 million in 2010 – and that number continues to grow. Whether for business trips, last-minute vacations or when people just quite can’t get to a computer at the minute, mobile booking is a convenient solution. And evidence suggests that even investing in a mobile booking app may be worth it. Some hotels are even using smartphone apps internally to help with food and beverage operations, and even as a room keys.

Reputation management is a new buzzword in the marketing world. Google reviews and other rating services offer the convenience of rating a room and hotel experience on the guests’ plane or car ride home while it’s still fresh in their mind. Just the simple technology of being able to take a photo of your special anniversary hotel room, a neat display in the lobby, or another unique aspect of your hotel and instantly text it to your friend is word-of-mouth marketing at its finest.

As we continue to see how technology enhances the hospitality industry, we encourage you to stay on top of trends. And for that extra boost – we suggest browsing our in-room smartphone products to really impress your tech-savvy guests!