What are hotel amenities?

Hotel amenities are facilities or services that you offer to enhance your guests’ experience. They can be anything from the essentials like comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi, and a delicious breakfast, to more luxurious offerings like spa services, gourmet dining, or a well-stocked minibar.

As a small hotelier, you know that running a hotel is more than just providing a bed for your guests. It’s about creating an experience, making your guests feel at home, and offering them services and facilities that make their stay memorable. This is where hotel amenities come into play.

But it’s not just about having amenities, it’s about having the right ones. As a small hotelier, you have a unique opportunity to tailor your amenities to your specific clientele. Are your guests fitness enthusiasts? Consider offering a well-equipped gym or partnerships with local fitness centres. Do you cater to families? Think about providing amenities like a games room, babysitting services, or family-friendly dining options.

Best hotel amenities examples

When it comes to booking a hotel, it’s not just about the location or the price. The amenities a hotel offers can significantly influence a traveller’s decision to book. These little extras can turn a good stay into a great one, making guests feel pampered, entertained, and taken care of. So, what are some of the best hotel amenities that guests are looking for? Let’s dive in and explore four major amenities that can make a real difference.

1. Free in-room Wi-Fi

No small hotelier can argue with the fact that free Wi-Fi has become a non-negotiable expectation among guests worldwide. More than 96% of Australian hotels offer free Wi-Fi, meaning it’s no longer a premium offer but a necessity.

Some hotels have been reluctant over the years to adopt this friendly policy, especially large organisations that are likely to incur large expenses providing free Wi-Fi to all guests. However, for guests, it’s one of the most desirable in-room amenities.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to offset the costs related to Wi-Fi, and you can also use Facebook Wi-Fi to boost your business

More and more guests are making their booking decisions based on whether or not a hotel offers free or working Wi-Fi. In fact, it is reported that 98.4% of guests expect Wi-Fi in-room!

And both business and leisure travellers see free Wi-Fi as the most important amenity when they decide where to stay.

free wifi hotels forbes

Hotel guests believe that being constantly connected via their various devices is a key priority while they are travelling. It is such a priority that most booking sites are allowing travellers to filter hotels based on whether they provide Wi-Fi, with more and more making their booking decisions based on this.

In fact, websites like Hotel Wi-Fi Speed Test and SpeedSpot were even created for the sole purpose of allowing potential guests to check any hotel’s Wi-Fi before booking in their stay. So quality is just as important as providing Wi-Fi in the first place.

At this point, a hotel not offering complimentary Wi-Fi to guests will be missing out on many opportunities to win bookings. The guest experience should always come first.

Hotels with free Wi-Fi: Challenges and solutions

Of course, sometimes it’s easier said than done to offer free Wi-Fi to all guests at all times. Investment may be needed to install additional access points, with ongoing data and support costs. Other challenges include:

  • More wifi-enabled devices on the market.
  • More demand for bandwidth to support the activity of users.
  • A need to periodically enhance Wi-Fi networks to support a multitude of devices.
  • Spending more money on increased bandwidth.

The advantage for a small property like yours is that it’s much cheaper to adopt than a large hotel or chain.

You can respond to the above challenges by:

  1. Increasing your room rates as needed to cover the costs
  2. Offering a premium Wi-Fi with greater bandwidth for a fee in addition to your free Wi-Fi
  3. Winning back revenue via your up-sells, extras, or packages
  4. Encourage spending via Wi-Fi – e.g set up an online shop to sell products that are used within your hotel

Need help selling packages and extras effectively? Check out Little Hotelier’s booking engine.

2. Breakfast

Travellers really appreciate the first meal of the day. In fact, Hotels.com found that breakfast is the most sought after hotel amenity. A satisfying breakfast adds ease and comfort to a guest’s stay, making it a far more pleasant experience overall.

Here are some types of breakfasts you can include in your offering:

  • English breakfasts have become an expected staple at hotels around the world. Use bread, toast, bacon, sausages, eggs, and grilled tomatoes.
  • Fresh fruit and organic foods for the health conscious traveller. Use fresh fruit baskets, yoghurts, organic breads, organic fruit pastries and oatmeal.
  • Ethnic-inspired breakfasts for your Asian guests. Use fried rice, Asian vegetables, Asian chilli sauce, soy sauce, and herbal teas.

Offering a variety of breakfast options is the best way to capitalise on this amenity and cater to all kinds of guests.

3. In-room hotel room amenities

Bed and breakfast amenities that you offer in-room are equally important to travellers. What’s important will differ across segments.

The basics would include…

  • Bathroom. Is there a bath or just a shower? Do you have a bathrobe available for them? Do you have hairdryers?
  • Dining. Do you have a mini bar? What are your hours for ordering in-room dining? Is bottled water provided?
  • Air-conditioning. Is air conditioning available to temperature-sensitive guests?

4. Complimentary transportation services

Travellers often find it difficult to coordinate transportation logistics during their trips, especially if they only want to visit a few attractions and are not going to be renting a car.

By offering complimentary transportation services, your guests will be able to conveniently get from your property to a local restaurant, a museum or a historical landmark.

They will appreciate the ride, and they will remember that your staff went above and beyond to improve their entire travel experience.

Bed and breakfast amenities and features

In the world of hospitality, the devil is often in the details. When it comes to running a bed and breakfast, this couldn’t be more true. It’s those thoughtful little touches, the unexpected amenities, and the unique bed and breakfast facilities that can transform a guest’s stay from ordinary to extraordinary. These are the elements that make your property feel less like a temporary lodging and more like a home away from home. They’re the delightful surprises that guests remember long after their stay, the details that they share with friends and family, and the reasons they choose to return. 

Not only can these amenities and features enhance your guests’ experience, but they can also become your secret weapon in boosting your direct bookings. So, let’s delve into some of the amenities and features that can make your bed and breakfast truly stand out.

1. Fresh flowers in the room

A bouquet of colourful blooms has the ability to breathe life into any space. Use fresh cut flowers from your own garden or from the local farmers’ markets to create a display in each room within your property.

It is a wonderful way to welcome your guests to your property, and allows them to feel as comfortable as they are in their own home.

2. Afternoon snacks

People who stay at B&Bs crave the charm of days gone by and the hospitality of a true innkeeper. By offering snacks in the afternoon, you are giving your guests a chance to gather together and relax during their stay.

Homemade cookies, local organic produce, or savoury crackers with cheese are all options to consider for your mid-afternoon offerings. Of course, don’t forget the fresh lemonade, soda and water.

3. Entertainment library

Rather than forcing your guests to download a movie on their tablet or bring their own deck of cards, design an entertainment library where guests can borrow items that will enhance their stay. You can include board games, movies, card decks and books in your library.

Guests will love that they can grab a novel to read on your porch during a rainy afternoon, or stay up late playing board games with their friends who they are travelling with. This makes it one of the most creative hotel room amenities, even without a massive investment.

4. Bathroom amenities

A comfy bed and a delicious breakfast are important, but let’s not forget about the unsung hero of hospitality: the bathroom amenities. These small, often overlooked items can significantly enhance your guests’ experience, making their stay more comfortable and memorable.

Imagine this: you’ve just arrived at a B&B after a long day of travel. You’re tired, maybe a bit grubby from the journey, and all you want is a nice, relaxing shower. You step into the bathroom and find a selection of high-quality toiletries waiting for you. Instantly, you feel cared for and valued. That’s the power of hotel bathroom amenities.

There are some core amenities that every B&B should try to provide, like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and quality towels, but you can score some serious points by providing high quality lotion, toothpaste, razors and shaving cream, or even bath salts and bubble bath.

5. Beach supplies

If you are a waterfront destination, or you are located near a fantastic beach, your guests will be thrilled to know that you have supplies on-hand they can use in their hotel room.

It’s difficult to pack beach toys, chairs and umbrellas, so they won’t forget that your B&B provided them with these essential items. Your beach kit might also include a frisbee, beach ball, sunscreen and a cool box.

Many guests opt to stay at B&Bs because of the authentic, personal experience that they enjoy while they are away. By offering unique bed and breakfast amenities, you set yourself apart from other accommodations in the area.

Be proud of what you offer your guests, and be sure to market the extra services and B&B features that you have available.

This proves you value the guest experience at your property, and will likely create loyalty from travellers who visit you.

Creative hotel amenities ideas

For some travellers, the simple amenities are good enough. They’re looking for a clean, private bedroom and some well-manicured grounds to enjoy. Perhaps free Wi-Fi or a charging station in the lobby.

But today’s hotel trends are indicating that more and more travellers are looking for something unique and luxurious when they book their stays at small hotels.

Here are three of the over-the-top (or OTT) amenities that can be found at modern B&Bs or hotels around the world:

1. A private fireworks menu

This is a one-of-a-kind amenity that currently can only be found at the amazingly luxuriously and incredibly exclusive Ty Warner Mansion at Las Ventanas al Paraiso.

It costs a mere $35,000 per night to stay at the Ty Warner Mansion, but with this hefty room rate comes the ability to create a customised, private fireworks display from a menu that can be found in the room!

Consider watching your personal fireworks show by sipping on tequila from your private tequila library, which is just another added benefit of booking this ultimate room.

2. A personal assistant

The Mill House Inn is a bed and breakfast in New York that offers guests a truly relaxing experience.

Those who book the Graybarn Cottage enjoy the perks of having their own personal assistant during their stay.

This assistant will deliver breakfast fresh in the morning, and also helps to make reservations, book excursions and complete itineraries for guests.

3. A saltwater pool

In Texas, the Inn on Lake Granbury has earned a reputation of being one of the poshest destinations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Not only will guests enjoy first-class amenities throughout their rooms, but they also have access to a saltwater pool!

Visitors love the feeling of swimming in their own ocean, and it’s particularly rejuvenating considering there’s a private waterfall in view of the pool as well.

This is an adults-only B&B, making it an ideal destination for those seeking romance and privacy.

While you likely aren’t going to find these incredible amenities at just any bed and breakfast that you book, you are sure to find personal touches and fine details at just about any property across the globe.

The joy of staying at a bed and breakfast is that you get a home-like experience in a new destination.

Innkeepers work hard in order to create a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere within their properties, and they are known for providing their guests with personalised service and devoted attention.

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).