As occupancy rates in hospitality fluctuate, hotel managers are turning towards automation tools to ensure better occupancy and customer experience. Hotel managers can significantly improve occupancy rates and maximize the hospitality experience in their hotels by reducing costs while maintaining an optimal level of service with the right automation tool suite.
OPTIMIZE CAPACITY
Some hotels have been able to do so with low-cost but short-term automation technology, while others implemented expensive and more complex solutions which have not seen much success in lower occupancy periods. The hotel sector has already started making improvements through the use of automatic controls to reduce costs and boost occupancy rates. Here’s how to set out to achieve this:
1. Automate your front desk
Automating your front desk is the first step toward increasing your hotel’s occupancy rate. Front desks are usually the most difficult to automate in any hotel operation. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that they require human interaction, and people dislike interacting with computers. However, with a little time and effort, you can automate almost anything at your hotel. Check out these pointers to help you get started:
- Instead of paper reservations, use a computerized reservation system (CRS). CRSs are software programs that allow guests to book reservations online.
- Consider installing self-service check-in kiosks. Self-check-in kiosk systems allow guests to check in without interacting with a front-desk employee. These kiosks function similarly to kiosks, with the exception that they do not need to be installed near a counter. Rather, guests scan their room keys on a tablet or smartphone, then enter their room number.
2. Set up an automated marketing campaign.
Your website is the ideal platform to market your hotel and its services, but you need a system that can handle the volume of traffic that comes with a growing number of bookings. Marketing technology has been a game changer for leading hospitality chains who would otherwise have to rely on manual effort to customize activities from email campaigns to modifications based on customer preferences.
3. Try to get the most out of your rate changes.
Booking rates fluctuate daily, so you need an automated system that will keep track of them so you can make adjustments based on changes in demand. This includes adjusting prices after check-in or adding amenities such as free Wi-Fi or breakfast at checkout time, which can help you capture valuable business from those who would otherwise have booked elsewhere.
4. Streamline your check-in process.
Automating check-in is a big win for both guests and staff because it lets them focus on other tasks while still being able to ensure everyone has checked in safely and comfortably. It also helps reduce errors by ensuring everyone arrives at the same time regardless of whether they walk through the front door or room service knocks
CONCLUSION
Your hotel’s occupancy rate is an indicator of the health of your business, along with revenue per available room (RevPAR), and overall profitability. Automation of the daily processes which lead up to bigger functions is essential to maintain smooth operations, keep guests happy and drive revenue goals.
Book a demo now to see how automation tools can help your hospitality enterprise.
