Give Your Hotel A Rating Boost

Give Your Hotel A Rating BoostGive Your Hotel A Rating Boost

We are always talking about the significance a great review can have for your small business. With more and more consumers turning to sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor to get information from peers on the best restaurants, hotels, and stores around, it’s worth paying extra attention to your hotel’s digital reputation. A ratings boost not only serves to increase the popularity of your hotel, it’s clear this will translate into increased sales as well. A Wall Street Journal article reported that a “1-point increase in a hotel’s rating is associated with a 6.5-percent increase in demand and a 1.5-percent increase in price.” Interested to learn more? Today, we’re talking strategy—and how you can give your hotel a ratings kick.

WiFi is Key

Obviously. Everything is digital these days, and not all travelers can afford a personal hotspot. At Beta News, we recently read that “Around a third of leisure travelers say they would not return to a hotel that offered inadequate wireless access, a number which rises to two-thirds of business guests.” Point blank: Wifi is a non-negotiable. And almost as important is that it’s free, and reliable. Taking into account that an internet connection is a no-brainer for travelers, it may not necessarily raise your star rating if you offer it. But not offering this service? That’s a recipe for ratings that are less-than desirable. Give your guests what they want—it’ll pay for itself in the long run.

Encourage Reviews

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, online reviews are the key to increasing your hotel’s star rating. While it’s ideal to have positive reviews, truthfully you know there will likely be some negative ones as well. The key to creating a digital persona that’s welcoming and understanding is all in the way you react to your online feedback. Respond to your reviews—both positive and negative—to let guests and potential patrons know you’re aware of their voices and willing to fix any issues. Damage control is the best method to repair a broken relationship.

Don’t be shy about touting all the good things people say about your hotel, either. There’s nothing wrong with a little back-patting. Publicize great feedback on your website and social media accounts to encourage new patrons and nurture existing customer relationships.

Keep Your Digital Presence Updated

Sites like TripAdvisor (and even your own website) offer the opportunity to create a profile that needs to be updated regularly. Make sure all of your hotel amenities are listed, your lodging details are up-to-date, and there are plenty of recent photographs available. Keeping current is the perfect way to make sure guests are aware of all the awesome things they can expect with their stay.

By following these simple strategies, over time your hotel can expect to see a nice little boost in its ratings. It’s a competitive landscape out there. But with proper management of your digital footprint, sunny skies are just ahead.