A few weeks ago I was out in Central Asia delivering training to a dynamic group of hospitality businesses and staying at one of the best hotels in the city.

I was there for two weeks, and during that time my room was great, breakfast was great, lunch was great, but no one ever mentioned their spa, their massage services, their in-room evening dining or their free taxi service into town.

All of these services were available because I found out about them accidentally.

They were all opportunities for them to make my stay even more enjoyable and my experience memorable, but it didn’t happen.

They thought they were just selling a room.

But I had money in my pocket ready to spend and they weren’t giving me opportunities to do that. What a tragedy!

What are you able to offer your guests?

Let me ask you this – do you believe you’re just selling rooms? Do you have other products and services to offer your guests? How do you let them know about them?

Don’t assume for one single minute that they are going to ask, or that they are going to somehow spot them randomly. You have to speak about them, and more than once.

Because this is your golden opportunity to turn a transaction into an experience. An experience where you’re not just selling rooms. You’re offering an experience. Anyone can do this. It doesn’t take much. Just a bit of creativity. Everyone is capable of creating something.

Studies show that more and more, travellers are seeking experiences, so don’t disappoint them.

And we, as small operators are in the best position to do this, unlike large hotel chains.

Think about your small accommodation offering like this…

  1. What is the main reason guests visit you and your area?
  2. How could you include an extra something relative or relevant to those reasons?
  3. How could you package those extras up into an experience for them?

Here are some examples of how you can enhance the B&B experience…

  • Firewood for an in-room fire on a cold winter’s night to create a romantic experience for couples.
  • A late in-room breakfast to create a unique experience for couples away from their children.
  • A basket of breakfast items with some gourmet choices for your late arrivals or self-catered units.

Remember to add a reasonable price tag, so that you will enjoy offering these extras without feeling resentful because of the extra work.

And most of all, have fun with this. Think about extras you’d enjoy as a guests and let that inspire what you’re going to do to create new experiences at you small property.

Yvonne Halling is an award winning B&B owner, online marketer and consultant specialising in bed and breakfasts, guest houses, inns and small hotels, where she helps them to make more money while have a lot more fun. You can pick up her free guide on how to Make More While Working Less at //bedandbreakfastcoach.com.

By Dean Elphick

Dean is the Senior Content Marketing Specialist of Little Hotelier, the all-in-one software solution purpose-built to make the lives of small accommodation providers easier. Dean has made writing and creating content his passion for the entirety of his professional life, which includes more than six years at Little Hotelier. Through content, Dean aims to provide education, inspiration, assistance, and, ultimately, value for small accommodation businesses looking to improve the way they run their operations (and live their life).