HOTEL BUSINESS REVIEW

April FOCUS: Guest Service

 
April, 2023

Guest Service: Exceeding Expectations


When guests check into a hotel, they have expectations of quality customer service. They expect to have their needs met in a professional manner, they desire a certain level of comfort, and possibly even made to feel a little special. This is important because satisfied guests are more likely to return and to become true brand ambassadors. But what if instead of merely meeting expectations, hotels created a culture of service that was intent on exceeding expectations in every conceivable way? What if frontline staff were trained and empowered to provide guest services that demonstrate a willingness to always go the extra mile in order to please their guests? This culture is exactly what some hotels are creating in their operations. From helpful, smiling, welcoming staff to the quality of  a room's comfort and conveniences. From discovering a guest's special needs and enthusiastically fulfilling them, to making some amenities free of charge and offering random upgrades. The April issue of the Hotel Business Review will explore what some hotels are doing to enhance and enrich their guest services. 


This month's feature articles...

Ken Lanigan

As the Hotel General Manager for the four-star, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, Ken Lanigan shares his insights and human-first approach on how to exceed guest expectations. From putting trust in your team members to the importance of consistency, Ken shares what has worked for him and his team and helped make Live! Philadelphia one of the top-rated hotels in Philadelphia. READ MORE

Diarmuid Dwyer

Learning to anticipate guests' needs is key when striving to create a culture of service. Hotel team members that make an effort prior and during a guest's stay to understand the individual and enhance their experience without the guest having to ask often results in exceeding the guest's expectations. As a result, travelers who have had unforgettable experiences at a hotel usually tend to return in the future. READ MORE

Stan Kennedy

The pandemic has pushed hospitality into a new era. Today, the needs and expectations of guests have changed; they no longer accept reduced service levels and amenities. Instead, they want staff, services, and experiences that go above and beyond, and it is up to hotel management companies to deliver just that. READ MORE

Jill Rigsbee

Hoteliers continue to seek opportunities to enhance wellness for their guests and suppliers are leveraging technology to support wellness opportunities. From product development to innovative thinking and technical equipment, these suppliers are providing solutions that enhance guest experiences and save labor for hotel operators. Learn how to evaluate technology opportunities and find the best supplier solutions for your properties. READ MORE

Matthew Garrett

Military service members, their families, and other government travelers came to expect comfort and camaraderie when staying in hotels on Army installations. Yet, those expectations were disrupted by pandemic restrictions. How can services be adjusted to maintain lasting guest satisfaction and make these brave men and women continue to feel at home in temporary lodging? READ MORE

Mike Shaff

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year, Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has grown from regional hotel company into a global hospitality brand with footprints on the world's most iconic beaches. In an ever-changing industry, Outrigger remains consistent in prioritizing authentic experiences and local culture alongside respect for guests and hosts alike with the brand's core values as a guide. READ MORE

Nadav Solomon

With today's fully integrated technology ecosystems, hotel operators can do a lot more with fewer staff. Simultaneously, they can provide guests a next-generation hospitality and payment experience that delivers the security, simplicity, and data-driven personalization they expect. Hotels must catch up to the guest experience of the future. Modern, cloud-based technology platforms can make it happen. READ MORE

Hazel Hagans

Throughout the history of hospitality and hoteliers, guest services has always been the main priority for the hospitality industry. Foundational guest service is not only expected, but required at hotels, and The Madison Hotel strives for associate-to-guest interactions that exceed the expectations of standard customer service. After 60 years of service, the team still asks the question: how can we go the extra mile to make the guest feel appreciated? READ MORE

Marc Vaughn

Today's hotels are always on the search for new technologies that can enhance guest experiences. However, the underlying key to success with many of these platforms and still ranking high on guest priorities is the need for a robust WiFi network. Only by tackling this issue first can hoteliers ensure their ability to deliver a stay experience that's truly exceptional. READ MORE

Stefan Múhle

Stefan Muhle, VP and Regional Managing Director at Noble House Hotels & Resorts-a collection of over 20 experience-driven hotels across North America-shares his insights on the travel industry's evolving amenity landscape. He taps into guest expectations in a Covid recovery marketplace, shares examples of industry leaders making an impact, and the tenets of creating amenity programs that authentically connect with guests. READ MORE

Brenda Fields

Looking for a cost-effective way to build business? Look no further than delivering excellent customer service. Think of customer service as a way of doing business as opposed to thinking of it as a program. Developing a guest-centric approach perspective will ensure guest loyalty and generate demand from good reviews. This article will address what great customer service is and how it will positively impact financial results. READ MORE

Lucille Yokell

Several years ago I decided to change from the London Kensington hotel I had been using to one in Mayfair. I shipped a box to the new hotel and a few days later I received a phone call: "Hi Ms. Yokell, this is Michael from the M Hotel in London calling to let you know that your package has arrived". I almost dropped the phone. And I stayed at this hotel for the next ten years. I tell you this because when I read the topic to be covered this month, that memory popped right up. Read on to see what hotels are doing now to entice guests to stay with them. READ MORE

Holly Stiel

The world and especially the hospitality industry needs LOVE right now. We need to lead with LOVE! In order for this to happen we must Listen with love, take Opportunities, define our Values and bring the 528 hertz LOVE Energy in every interaction. We can deliver Service LOVE once we serve LOVE to ourselves first. Please join us in the Service LOVE movement! READ MORE

Jacques-Olivier Chauvin

So many hotels today are using labor shortages and COVID cutbacks as an excuse for maintaining reduced guest services. But is this wise? From an operational point of view, we need to focus on a general redirection of services and amenities, explore new ways to connect with guests, and adapt an overall "smart service" management mentality in order to set our properties apart. READ MORE

Robert O'Halloran

Guest service is an amazing product. You cannot see it, and it may be difficult to decide on one specific definition. You can't take it home as anything; it's just a good experience and memory. This article will focus on guest service and how the hospitality industry -- and more specifically the lodging sector -- are adapting and changing guest service expectations. READ MORE

Steve Curtin

The hospitality industry has been in survival mode since the onset of the pandemic. Even now, three years removed from March 2020, hoteliers grapple with staffing issues and the ability to maintain brand standards for product and service quality. It's time to transition from surviving to thriving. Don't just give employees tasks to work on, give them a purpose to work toward. READ MORE

Gary Patrick

Advances in online connectivity and IoT technologies are finally providing hoteliers with the means to connect the dots that guarantee an exceptional stay for each and every guest. With today's travelers valuing speed and personalized service more than ever, such advances are proving to be the key that unlocks a hotel's potential in delivering an experience that always exceeds expectations. READ MORE

Robert Reitknecht

Pandemic-era restrictions have lifted, but that doesn't mean hotel amenities should look the same as they did in 2019. Guests are expecting the return of conveniences to which they were accustomed such as a complimentary hot breakfast, health and wellness facilities, and turndown service. Hotels have a major opportunity to not only reinstate these COVID-cut services but uplevel them to increase customer lifetime value and create new revenue streams. Here are 12 ways to bring unexpected value to expected guest services. READ MORE

Peter McAlpine

In this article I am going to explain why I think that the relentless increase in contactless technology will weaken hugely the spirit of hospitality in hotels. New technology and amenities will improve guest convenience and maybe exceed the expectations of many guests, but the service experience will be detached more and more from the essence of hospitality. READ MORE

Yaniv Holzer

Recent years have seen a substantial increase in the number of digital solutions being integrated into various aspects and sectors of our lives; travel, banks, retails, food ordering, and more. How has the hospitality industry leveraged these technologies, and what are the key points to look out for and consider when implementing digital solutions to assist and improve your hotel's operations? READ MORE

Coming up in March 1970...