Hotels’ off-season doesn’t need to be off

Unless a hotel is closed during some months of the year, then it makes sense to try to boost its off-season bookings. It’s all a virtuous cycle, really: more bookings bring more revenue which brings more marketing which brings more bookings and so on and so forth.

Admittedly, there are hotels that can’t attract customers in the off-season. If there is a hurricane season or a monsoon season, then it makes little sense to attract hotel guests then. But there are a lot of hotels that don’t fall under this category and these can do a lot to increase their off-season bookings. Here are just a few tips for that.

1. Cooperate with the community
   It is said that when hotels, restaurants and shops put aside their differences and work together, then tourism in their area thrives. In order to make your hotel attractive, it is wise to make your destination attractive. And to have it attractive throughout the year, you need to work with your community. New events can be scheduled outside the peak season, there can be a marketing pool for the whole region (the municipality can help a lot with that). The bottom line is: strength is in the numbers.
2. Be available on multiple platforms
   Well-run hotels know where their guests come from and know when they come. But it’s by definition difficult to expect the unexpected guest. You never know when someone on a whim will choose to come to your location in the off-season. So, you need to have many avenues for people to come to you. From online platforms to small and medium travel agents, people have to be able to find you no matter how they decide to book their vacations.
3. Price down your rooms
   We’re not saying anything new here. Prices during the peak season are different from prices in the off-season. However, we do suggest that you experiment with pricing. You don’t need to go really low, but you can’t stay almost as high as you are during peak season. Unless you offer something truly special in the off-season. There are so many parameters to take into account, that pricing is almost a science. And hotels need to keep up with the times.
4. Plan ahead
   The off-season can’t be an afterthought. A hotel needs to be able to plan ahead for it. Staffing, events, offers, prices, everything needs to be known in advance. That’s the only way a hotel can maximize its off-season bookings. Nothing is left to chance.
5. Bring back your favourite
   You know how a good hotel will attract repeat customers; the experiences it offers are so good that people keep coming back. So, why not come back during a different time of the year? Try to bring the same level of comfort in a different type of environment. Show the beauty of a place when it’s not so full of people or when the weather is not ideal. Loyal customers can fire up the off-season for hotels that take really good care of their guests.

You know how a good hotel will attract repeat customers; the experiences it offers are so good that people keep coming back. So, why not come back during a different time of the year? Try to bring the same level of comfort in a different type of environment. Show the beauty of a place when it’s not so full of people or when the weather is not ideal. Loyal customers can fire up the off-season for hotels that take really good care of their guests.

You can read further blogs on this HERE