Many traditional industries are being challenged by the rise of low maintenance cost digitalised players, such as Uber, in the transportation industry, Zillow, in the real estate one, and even in the hotel industry, specifically Airbnb.
This startup is an user-friendly community marketplace for those who are looking to offer or are looking for accommodations pretty much all over the world. A whopping 17 million people have used Airbnb in the summer of 2015 and in more recent events, 15,000 Super Bowl 50 fans used it to make sure they get a spot in the venue in the Bay Area.
Although they are a relatively new competitor on the market, their popularity has shown that some consumer needs were overlooked by traditional players in the hotel industry. Rather than trying to shut them down (like some large companies are doing by lobbying for regulations and taxation against Airbnb type businesses) let’s try to learn from their success and find out what is the void that these companies fill. Here are 3 tactics that Airbnb properties employ and you could try:
The need for customers to feel special and be treated like an individual seems to weigh heavy when it comes to picking a place to stay. The people that are willing to share their living spaces are most likely open minded and looking to get to know new people and if they make some money from it… even better. So go the extra mile and make your package as welcoming as you can. The first thing you could improve is your staff. The ideal staff member is someone that is easy going and friendly, is someone who is passionate about meeting new people and sees the client as an opportunity to learn something from someone new.
In the past Airbnb has been all about cost-friendly accommodations for those with limited budgets. But recently they have started catering to the needs of corporate travelers and their success may hinge on the fact that the cozy and original atmosphere of someone’s actual living space can loosen up coworkers and make them more open and collaborative.
So you can tap into this trend and make big corporate companies see the advantages of smaller, more intimate accommodations. Make them believe that every business trip can also double as a team building activity. Try setting up special packages for larger companies that you know are doing business in your area.
Flexibility, ease of communication and transparency make Airbnb properties very appealing to those in need of an unplanned and quick get away. Although you would ideally like having a steady and reliable stream of reservations, catering to the needs of those who have a hard time planning their trip long before hand might just help you fill up those last vacant rooms and improve your bottom line.
Using a software that shows your vacancies and fees can be a great asset if you have potential clients that want to quickly check-in into a nearby accommodation. This level of flexibility can be achieved through HoteloPro’s Online Booking Engine feature that allows 24/7 access to book rooms in your unit.
From your experience, what other tactics work best for small hoteliers?
Lorin is Inbound Marketer at HoteloPro, online hotel management system trusted by small hotels and B&Bs from over 15 countries.