Exclusive Feature: Travel apps are a dime-a-dozen these days, but are your guests using them to their advantage when they stay with you? You might think that isn't your problem, but give it a second thought.
 
For many business travelers, a hotel room is second best to their own. Knowing what to do, or where to find the daily needs - like a dry cleaner or pharmacy - can make your hotel feel even more like home to a new traveler or a repeat guest.
 
In addition to your own app, there are a few ways your hotel can help guests get acclimated to new surroundings using already-established apps:
 
1. Using apps like Yelp or FourSquare, create a few tips and recommendations from the hotel. When your guest opens these apps to find restaurants, bars, movie theaters or general business information, your hotel will be there with a few suggestions and recommendations nearby.
 
2. Provide an in-room "cheat-sheet" of nearby businesses. If you're using iPads in guest rooms, download apps ahead of time so your guests don't have to go searching. Or, have an extra page printed and placed in your hotel's in-room guide.
 
3. Update your hotel's app. If your hotel has its own app, it's time to update it with nearby information and recommendations. Most hotel apps today come complete with a booking system, photos of guest rooms and hotel public spaces, and maps and directions. Add to that app a "Concierge" section, where your guests can find details are nearby businesses like laundry services, restaurants, car rental agencies and more.
 
Sure, any of these options are available on apps like TripAdvisor, OpenTable or Yelp, but why not make your guests' life a little easier by eliminating one more step?

Your hotel's team is the knowledge base of the area, so use them to your tech-friendly advantage and give your guests personalized recommendations from a home-away-from-home they trust.

This is strictly an exclusive feature, reprints of this article in any shape or form without prior written approval from 4Hoteliers.com is not permitted.

Melanie Nayer is a hotel reviewer and expert on luxury travel around the world. She has covered all aspects of hotels including corporate restructures, re-branding initiatives, historical aspects and the best of the best in luxury hotels around the world.

Melanie writes a weekly exclusive column for 4Hoteliers.com