Enhancing Hotel Guest Experience Through A Personalized Digital Directory

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Summary

This blog will help you understand guest preferences and the benefit of providing personalized recommendations. It will also help you improve the guest experience by making it more memorable.

 

Personalized Digital Directory

Imagine a guest checking into your hotel. Wouldn't it be great if you offered them the exact information they were looking for?

Why is this important? Your guests are away from home when they stay with you. Making them feel taken care of makes a huge difference. If your guests feel special during their stay, it will have a lasting impression.

An online guest directory with personalization features is one of the many guest experience-enhancing strategies a hotel can employ. It can act like a friend who suggests activities based on their personal preferences.

Let’s say your guests love swimming; your directory would recommend the best times to take a dive- maybe at sunset, when the water is just right, and the views are unbeatable.

Or a foodie guest who can get nearby restaurant suggestions based on their tastes, dietary preferences, and budget.

Basically, it's about making your guests feel comfortable at your hotel.

In this blog, we will check out strategies for a personalized digital directory that can turn a good stay into a great one!

Understanding Guest Preferences

Understanding Guest Preferences

You get all sorts of guests in hotels. Families, business travelers, honeymoon couples, groups of friends, you name it! Everyone has different likes & dislikes. Some may want non-smoking rooms or adjacent rooms, or some may prefer vegetarian food.

If you know such preferences beforehand, it will be easier for you to accommodate them.

You can ask them to fill out a simple questionnaire in which guests can provide details about allergies, diet restrictions, fitness habits, etc. This way, you will know a bit about your guests before they check in.

The personalized digital directory may show a popup about an on-site fitness center for a gym buff or swimming pool times for someone who loves to swim.

Room Reference- Smoking, non-smoking, room with a view, adjoining rooms for groups, a room with jacuzzi for a honeymoon couple!

Dietary preferences- Veg, Non-veg, specific food allergies like lactose intolerance, special arrangements, etc.

Special Occasions- Special arrangements for anniversaries, birthdays, some freebies to celebrate the occasion, or just a card wishing them for their anniversary would make a difference!

Activities- You may suggest gyms or jogging tracks to a gym buff or nearby museums for history lovers.

Entertainment- Suggestions like movies, open mic nights, and concerts happening at your hotel or nearby.

These things make guests feel like you have gone the extra mile for them!

This is how you can personalize your online guest directory!

 

Strategies For A Personalized Digital Directory

• Content Personalization

Content Personalization

Content personalization refers to providing information to guests tailored to their unique preferences. Remember how sometimes you visit a website or an app, and it suggests articles or blogs that fit your preferences?

Wouldn’t it be great if you stacked the exact number of pillows in the guest room according to how the guest likes them?

As mentioned above, you can gather some information about your guests before check-in.

You can ask things like, the number of pillows they may prefer in their room or set the temperature before they walk in, if they would want extra towels in their room, or if they have any kind of allergies, etc.

Based on these preferences, your directory will show results.

For example, if your guest says he loves Italian food, the directory will suggest the best Italian restaurants nearby.

If your guest is a late riser, you can offer a late checkout.

Or, if your guest is traveling with a family, you may suggest family-friendly activities nearby!

So, instead of giving the same generic information to every guest, hotels may tailor the best suitable suggestions.

• Location-Based Personalization

Location Based Personalization

Many guests are new to your hotel’s location and will need to spend a lot of time figuring out where to visit.

In this case, it would be great if your guest directory could provide details like the best places to eat, the best cafes in the city, or the best fun activities in the area.

The mobile directory can suggest nearby restaurants, activities, and destinations based on your guest’s current location. This saves time and makes their stay more pleasant.

It's not just about food or activities, though. They will have proper navigation to all these places along with personal recommendations.

Make your guests’ stay more convenient and enjoyable. With quick navigation, your guests can make the most of their stay.

Some digital guest directories also provide a hotel navigation system. This system allows guests to locate on-site facilities like restaurants, swimming pools, gyms, receptions, elevators, etc. It saves time and confusion.

So, whether you're hungry, bored, or just want to explore, the location-based personalization in the guest directory has got you covered!

• Multilingual Support

Multilingual Support

Multilingual support means making guests comfortable by making the guest directory available in their native language.

For example, your guest speaks French and stays in a hotel in the United States. Your guest can switch it the online guest directory language to French and access any information he needs. From room service menus to local attraction information, everything is available in their preferred language.

It can translate everything you need in the hotel directory, from finding the pool to ordering room service. No more guesswork, just pure vacation vibes!

Any language barrier between them and your staff will not harm their experience.

With this personalization strategy in the guest directory, you can make your guests feel welcome and at home.

• Push Notifications & Targeted Messaging

Push Notifications & Targeted Messaging

Let's say your guest checked in to your hotel through a guest directory on their phone. Now that you know about your arrival, you can send them messages through pop-ups or push notifications.

Push notifications let you talk to your guests and promote your services in real-time. You can also send these notifications even when your guest is not using the directory. Notifications will still be shown on their phone.

Now, let’s see how targeted messaging works.

The hotel sends guests a targeted message based on location, interest, and past interactions using the personalized digital directory.

As mentioned earlier, if the hotel knows about guest preferences and likings, it can send them messages regarding that particular interest. For example, if the guest mentioned fitness, you can message him about the on-site gym facility or nearby gyms!

Or if your guests like Italian cuisine, then you can message them the curated list of pizza parlors near you.

Let your guests carry their personal concierge in their pockets.

Conclusion

A personalized digital directory is like having a friend who knows exactly what you like and makes arrangements.

Why is it important?

It’s convenient and makes guests feel special. With personalized guest directories, hotels can ensure that guests feel right at home. Make your guests feel at home with an online guest directory that does all of it! Contact us to learn more about how we can help!

Author
Roshan Patel
CTO & Co-Founder

Meet Roshan Patel, the dynamic force propelling INNsight to new heights. As a co-founder, his pragmatic and cost-focused leadership shapes the company's technical strategy and product architecture, ensuring a seamless hotel digital experience. With a hotel management and technology background, Roshan is a driving force in providing INNkeepers the tools they need to economically showcase their properties to cost-conscious travelers. Roshan's impact goes beyond tech, raising INNsight as a game-changer in hotel digital marketing.

Follow him on LinkedIn  - Roshan Patel - INNsight
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