Guests aren’t just looking for a hotel bed to sleep in. They want to indulge in accommodations that feature high-quality room amenities. They want to feel pampered. They want luxury.
In fact, according to PwC’s Consumer Intelligence Series Report on hotel brand loyalty, “both business and leisure travelers say room quality is the #1 reason for choosing a hotel.”
Does this mean you need to install a jacuzzi in every room? Of course not, but it does mean that the basics provided should look and feel luxurious.
Let’s take a look at how you can easily make the room amenities that matter most to guests not just simple but simply splendid.
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#1 Plush pillows and breathable bed linens
After a full day of sightseeing or traveling from point A to point B, it’s no wonder that there’s nothing guests want more than a comfy bed to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
What the average hotel provides: Rough, polyester sheets, with a microfiber bed cover in dark colors or dated patterns.
What guests want: Soft, breathable white sheets and down comforters, as well as the choice to go with a firm or plump pillow.
Why? 1000-thread-count cotton sheets and down-filled duvets are soothing. It’s the same with earth tones. When you stick to natural fibers and colors, guests can see from your online photos how luxuriously comfortable your beds are. And they’ll certainly feel it when they snuggle in for the night.
#2 Soft, oversized bath towels
It’s awkward to use a bath towel that doesn’t fully cover one’s body. Picture yourself sharing a hotel room with a friend or parent, and you’ll understand why.
What the average hotel provides: One or two small, rough towels.
What guests want: Soft towels that envelope them completely, along with a variety of different sizes for various uses.
Why? Large towels feel luxurious. Of course you can still encourage guests to use the same towel more than once, but provide them with a set of oversized, fluffy towels in their room anyhow. They’ll be more likely to hang them up and reuse them if you do.
#3 Full-sized, pH-balanced toiletries
Guests know they can count on the typical toiletries in the room just in case they forget to pack their own. However, there isn’t anything luxurious about a low-quality bar of soap that dries out one’s skin, or a shampoo that makes hair dull and frizzy.
What the average hotel provides: Small, single-use plastic bottles of cheap shampoo, lotion, shower and bath gel.
What guests want: High-quality soap, shampoo, and conditioner that leave them feeling clean and refreshed. And, of course, enough of everything to get the job done.
Why? An invigorating shower that results in shiny, tangle-free hair and soft, clean skin is at the height of simple luxury. It instills a sense of confidence and joy, and this is how guest would like to feel as they leave their room to go to an important meeting or to see the sights. Help them feel great by supplying their shower with top-notch, regular-sized toiletries.
#4 Complimentary refreshments
We all know that mini-bar fees are the most contested item on a room bill. It leaves a guest feeling nickel-and-dimed. Quality complimentary refreshments, on the other hand, leave them feeling cared for.
What the average hotel provides: Cheap plastic bottles of water, uninspiring packets of snacks, and sample-sized alcohol at exorbitant prices.
What guests want: Water, tea, and coffee within arm’s reach, plus ceramic and glass drinkware instead of plastic cups (wrapped in more plastic).
Why? After a long flight or an evening of enjoying the local nightlife, a bottle of water is just what your guests need to rehydrate and feel refreshed. Similarly, a jolt of caffeine the moment they wake up helps get their day started right. These are simple conveniences you can offer free of charge to make your guests feel pampered, not cheated.
#5 A little something special
One of the greatest rules of hospitality is to make your guests feel welcome and special. What better way to accomplish this than by treating each one to a little something extra? Add a cherry to the top of their experience, and they’ll love you for it.
What the average hotel provides: Usually nothing.
What guests want: To feel special. A plate of homemade cookies, a welcome cocktail, or fresh flowers in the room can do the trick.
Why? In a world where competing hoteliers are trying to undercut one another by doing away with what they see as unnecessary expenses, the properties that still invest in life’s simple luxuries for their guests will stand out. Dare to be different. Offer your guests more than what they expect.
When you deliver a high standard of quality on the essential room amenities, you set yourself apart from other hoteliers and get noticed by travelers.
Do you already boast the above luxuries at your property? Log in to trivago Business Studio and double-check that the Property Details for your trivago profile reflect those.
New, high-quality photos and an update to your description will let potential guests know that you’re ready to indulge them in the amenities that matter most.
Promote your website rates to drive more bookings.
Featured image by Pixel-Shot on Adobe Stock
A version of this article was originally published in April 2018.