Managing your hotel's reputation is just as vital in the hospitality sector as in any industry. Hotels thrive on positive word-of-mouth and online reviews to draw in guests, making reputation management a cornerstone of success. It’s been found that businesses with even just one negative article online could risk losing 22% of potential customers.
You might not have full control over what people say about your hotel online. But that doesn't mean you can't shape the story.
In this piece, we'll explore the importance of reputation management for hotels and provide actionable tips and strategies for managing your hotel's online reputation.
Table of Contents
What Is Hotel Reputation Management?
Hotel reputation management refers to the practices and strategies used to monitor, influence, and improve how hotels are perceived by guests and the public. This involves keeping track of reviews, social media mentions, and other online conversations about your hotel, and taking steps to address negative feedback and promote positive reviews and comments.
Potential guests often rely on reviews and social media to decide where to stay. For example, TripAdvisor found that 80% of their users read at least 6 to 12 reviews before booking. So, if your hotel has a good reputation, it can attract more guests and keep them coming back.
On the other hand, a bad reputation can turn people away and hurt your business. That's why it's important to actively manage your hotel's online image, responding to feedback, and showcasing the best of what you offer to ensure a positive perception among potential guests.
The Impact of Online Reviews
In the past, hotels mainly relied on word of mouth and traditional advertising to build their reputation. But today, things are different. Online reviews and social media are where guests share their thoughts on hotels.
According to TripAdvisor’s The Power of Reviews research, a whopping 82% of people see reviews as super important when picking a place to stay. Another study by TripAdvisor found that 79% of customers would pick a hotel with a higher rating if they could.
A good reputation brings lots of benefits. It can bring in new guests, fill up rooms, and boost profits. Plus, positive reviews and ratings can also improve your hotel's visibility on search engines and increase its credibility and authority in the industry.
But bad reviews should not be underestimated. They can scare off potential guests, leading to fewer bookings and a damaged reputation. And bad comments can spread fast on social media, making things even worse.
Thus, effective hotel reputation management is crucial in today's digital landscape. This means keeping guests happy, fixing problems fast, and using good reviews to balance out the bad ones.
Tips and Strategies for Hotel Reputation Management
To manage a hotel's reputation well, it's important to stay engaged, communicate promptly, and consistently provide excellent service. Here are some key strategies to maintain and improve hotel reputation:
- Monitor online presence
- Maintain high standards of service
- Embrace technology
- Encourage positive reviews
- Respond promptly and professionally
- Leverage social media
- Invest in website design
- Train staff effectively
- Measure and utilize data
Monitor Online Presence
The first step is to keep a vigilant eye on online reviews, social media chatter, and comments across booking platforms. Set up alerts to notify you when new reviews are posted and monitor your social media accounts regularly.
Employing cutting-edge online reputation management tools empowers hotels with actionable insights into guest sentiment, allowing for swift adjustments and enhancements.
Maintain High Standards of Service
This should go without saying, but keeping up top-notch service at your hotel is super important. It's all about making sure every guest has a fantastic experience from the moment they walk in, to the moment they leave. From friendly greetings at check-in to quickly fixing any issues that pop up, every interaction counts.
When you give personalized service, handle problems right away, and go the extra mile to make guests happy, you're building a reputation for amazing hospitality.
Embrace Technology
Embracing technology solutions like online booking platforms, customer relationship management systems, and reputation management tools can make running your hotel significantly smoother. These tools help you keep track of bookings, communicate with guests, and manage your reputation online.
By using them, you can make sure guests have a great experience from booking to check-out. Plus, they save you time and effort, so you can focus on providing top-notch service and making your guests happy.
Encourage Positive Reviews
Encouraging guests to share their positive experiences online can really boost your hotel's reputation. It's best to remind them after they've had a great experience or during checkout when it's fresh in their minds.
Making it simple for guests to leave reviews, maybe by using QR codes or sending follow-up emails with review links, increases the chances they'll do it.
Actively encouraging happy guests to share their experiences on popular review sites creates a feedback loop, spreading positive vibes across different booking platforms.
Respond Promptly and Professionally
Talking to guests who leave reviews can really help your hotel's reputation, especially when dealing with bad reviews. When you respond, do it quickly and nicely. Thank guests for their feedback and really try to solve any problems they had.
Making guests feel important and welcome to come back makes them like your hotel even more. Answering reviews doesn't just fix problems; it also shows you care about what guests think.
Leverage Social Media
It's worthwhile to connect with guests on social media to make your hotel more visible and well-known. By posting interesting content, replying to people's comments, and showing what makes your hotel special, you create stronger connections with your followers.
Since more than 50% of people follow companies on social media to find out what they offer, it's worth putting effort into it. When you talk to guests online and share engaging content, you create a sense of subconscious loyalty to your hotel and build lasting relationships with them.
Invest in Website Design
It's very important to have a sleek and easy-to-use website. Your website is like a digital version of your hotel, showing off its charm and what it offers. A website that's enjoyable to look at and easy to get around makes people more inclined to book with you.
Everything on the website, from the pictures to how you move around it, is made to grab people's attention and show off what makes your hotel special. When your website reflects what your hotel is all about, it helps people trust you more and makes them more likely to book a stay.
Train Staff Effectively
Give your staff the tools and training they need to make your hotel stand out, both online and offline. When your team knows how to handle all kinds of situations, from everyday tasks to tough challenges, they can meet guest needs effectively.
Special training helps them stay calm and provides great service even in difficult moments. Ideally, your team will be ready to handle most situations on their own, only involving management when necessary. This empowers your staff to shape your hotel's reputation positively and encourages guests to return repeatedly.
Measure and Utilize Data
Regularly keeping an eye on important numbers helps you see how well your hotel is doing. For instance, you can look at the average score guests give you on different websites like Google or Booking.com. Combining scores from all sites gives you an overall idea of how people see your hotel.
Monitoring how many reviews you get over time shows if guests are getting more interested. By looking at the ratio of good to bad reviews, you can see if your reputation is improving. And using data helps you learn what guests like, so you can keep making things better for them and stay ahead in the hotel business.
Examples of Successful Hotel Reputation Service
Here are three real-life examples of hotels effectively managing their reputation:
- The Ritz – Carlton
- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
- Wynn Las Vegas
The Ritz-Carlton
Imagine a guest staying at The Ritz-Carlton who has a special dietary requirement. The well-trained staff quickly accommodates the request and ensures that every meal during the guest's stay meets their dietary needs. Additionally, upon arrival, the staff addresses the guest by name and offers a personalized welcome gift based on their interests, making the guest feel truly valued and cared for.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Consider a guest checking into a Four Seasons hotel for a romantic getaway. The staff not only remembers the couple's names but also prepares their room with champagne, chocolate, and fresh flowers — a thoughtful gesture that exceeds their expectations. Throughout their stay, the staff anticipates their needs, providing exemplary service that leaves a lasting impression and encourages the couple to return for future stays.
Wynn Las Vegas
Picture a busy traveler arriving at Wynn Las Vegas after a long journey. Instead of waiting in line to check in, they are greeted by self-check-in kiosks equipped with user-friendly interfaces. After a seamless check-in process, the guest enters their room to find personalized amenities, such as their preferred snacks and drinks, waiting for them. This level of attention to detail and convenience enhances the guest's experience and ensures a memorable stay at the hotel.
Bottom Line: Hotel Reputation Management
Ensuring guests have a great experience and want to return is crucial for your hotel's reputation management. You can achieve this by providing excellent service, tailoring experiences, and embracing technology. Well-trained staff and streamlined processes, like easy check-ins, make guests feel valued and satisfied. This positive experience encourages them to share their stay with others, boosting your hotel's reputation and attracting more guests.
Ultimately, your goal is to create happy guests who keep coming back and spread the word about their fantastic stay at your hotel.
Hotel Reputation Management FAQs
How can hotels encourage guests to leave positive reviews?
Hotels can encourage positive reviews by providing exceptional service, sending follow-up emails thanking guests for their stay and kindly requesting feedback, or offering incentives such as discounts on future bookings.
What should hotels do about negative reviews?
Hotels should respond promptly to negative reviews, addressing the guest's concerns with empathy and offering solutions to rectify any issues. This demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction and can help mitigate the impact of negative feedback.
How important is reputation management for small boutique hotels?
Reputation management is equally important for small boutique hotels, if not more so, as they often rely heavily on word-of-mouth and online reviews to attract guests. Maintaining a positive reputation can differentiate them from larger competitors and drive bookings.
