The best way to stay in business is to keep ahead of your competition and in the hotel industry, this means studying competitors while listening to what guests want from their future experiences.

Finding the balance between these two factors will help hoteliers achieve success, but only if they also strive to stand out.

Here are six unique ways your hotel can gain a competitive advantage by trying something new. These promising ideas will work best for those who want to increase guest numbers and the quality of their experience. Consider implementing them on your property this year.

1. Invest in Sustainability

Recycling soda cans and plastic bottles used to be a casual habit people adopted, but now going green is a lifestyle. Those interested in sustainability don't want to increase their carbon footprint just because they're away from home, which is why so many guests look for hotels with an eco-friendly focus.

Every hotel's website should have a page dedicated to explaining their sustainable efforts. Mention things like energy reduction and using less water, and play up any property features management has installed to help the planet. Sustainability wins over more guests, so be upfront about how your property is environmentally friendly and what your upcoming plans look like.

2. Focus on International Travelers

Air travel is more common than ever before. United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that there were 1.5 billion international arrivals in 2019, all over the world. The number continues to rise, so hotels can become more competitive by focusing on international travelers.

Create promotional discount codes for international guests and provide in-hotel guides in different languages to help them find things to do in the area. Provide easy website translation and hire fluently multilingual staff. These actions all help international guests feel more comfortable and experience a pleasant stay, making it more likely for them to book with you the next time they're in town.

3. Combine Multiroom Suites

Large families, bridal parties and other groups of guests travel in large numbers. They don't want to be separated onto different floors once they arrive, so offer multiroom suites. They can close the connecting doors if they wish to have privacy while maintaining access to their loved ones. It makes it easier for people to travel with a group, which results in more bookings per year.

4. Use Multifunctional Furniture

Guests generally know what to expect in a hotel room, so surprise them with multifunctional furniture. It's a unique offer that will make more people curious to book a room. Look into things like using outlets with different ports and setting up wall beds to conserve space. Multifunctional furniture allows guests to have more power over their visit and shows that management is 10 steps ahead in thinking about their needs and comfort.

5. Partner With Local Adventure Companies

Hoteliers should consider the area around their hotels and why guests travel there. It's advantageous to partner with local companies, especially if they engage in region-specific adventures like river-rafting or whale-watching. Guests are more likely to book with a hotel if they can get local discounts, so advertise new or upcoming partnerships to give guests more to experience while they're in town.

6. Find Unique Amenities

People traveling on business or for an overnight trip may not spend much time outside of the hotel, so find unique amenities to make the property their best option. Put the latest exercise bikes in the gym and find new holistic treatments for the in-house spa. Host a restaurant on the property that serves food no other eatery in the area does or place the latest technology in rooms, like tablets and smart TVs.

Do Your Research

There are many ways to gain a competitive advantage with offers, rates and partnerships, but only if they connect guests with what they want. Research that shows who books with your property most often or why people travel to your location will help you determine your next best strategic moves.

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Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Ruffled, and more!

www.driftercollective.com