It's one thing to get media attention when opening, but quite another to keep people coming back after that, but Tuncel Toprak, owner/manager of the Witt Instanbul Suites seems to have done it very well so far – with people continuing to leave very positive feedback about Witt Suites online.

I conducted an interview with Tuncel shortly after he opened his hotel, and recently caught up with him again to hear his thoughts on this topic.

What have you done to sustain momentum and interest from guests after the opening your hotel?
It is very simple. Just meet or exceed expectations; give great, honest service and in the long run , you'll get the interest. And what is good about this type of interest is it is a lasting one.

How do you encourage guests to return to the hotel?
I do not do anything in particular on purpose. If guests are satisfied and if they think they receive the value for what they have paid, they will come back. We never send newsletters, etc.

Did you select 3rd-party distribution partner websites? If so, which ones? When and why did you do this?
Just a few ones. booking.com and Expedia are a must in addition to our own website. Our 17 rooms can be distributed with a few distribution partner websites.

Have you introduced any new amenities after opening?
Not really. We try to keep it simple. Clean rooms, comfy beds, delicious breakfast, good local tips. We have introduced Witt Magazine on our website that covers local tips and news.

Can you give me an example of a time you used guest feedback to improve your hotel?
Feedback was suggesting our fresh squeezed orange juice should be free (at the time it was about 3 euros) at the breakfast. Then I thought, if I were my guest, I would have wanted the same thing. We made it free.

Any other advice you want to give hoteliers about how to maintain a successful hotel after opening?
Sure: Just be honest. If you were your guest, would you be satisfied with your hotel? If you can answer this question honestly, then you can always keep improving.

Thanks, Tuncel!

www.hotelmarketingstrategies.com/maintain-interest

About the author
This blog is written by Josiah Mackenzie, who enjoys exploring the relationship between emerging technology and the hospitality industry. 

www.hotelmarketingstrategies.com