It’s easy to forget what constitutes a wonderful hotel experience as customer taste increasingly shifts toward experiences rather than material products. Even the smallest details, such as basic hotel essentials, can quickly transform a guest’s visit from blah to wow. Around the world, some of the most innovative hotels (in terms of design and services) are being built. From underwater hotels to treetop hideaways, new properties are pushing the boundaries of what a normal hotel experience should feel like.
The very few hotel necessities can have a huge impact on a customer’s overall experience. Below are some most common on-demand hotel essentials you need to know.
- High-quality hotel supplies:
The importance of providing your guests with the appropriate toiletries and hotel towels is so much needed and shouldn’t be ignored in order to attract more customers to your hotels.
- Free Wi-Fi:
Guests at all types of hotels expect a good Internet service, but business hotels, in particular, must provide the highest level of connectivity and flexibility. Guests wish to have free internet access at many hotels, if not all—for some, free Wifi is as essential as breathing.
- Coffee machine:
In the United States, coffee machines are found in almost every business and home. And hoteliers should know about it by now. The Washington Post also posted some years ago that hotels were increasingly removing coffeemakers or replacing them with single-serve machines. They claimed that part of the reason for this was job cuts when the economy took a turn for the worse.
- Safety & security:
A hotel serves as a home away from home for many people. With that comes a high bar for the most meticulous safety and security precautions. Many hotels are now emphasizing specialized safety and security measures for various guest profiles, including women, children, and the elderly. Although technology is becoming increasingly important in ensuring improved safety, some guests still value the human touch.
- Comfortable bedding:
After a tiring day, what a guest actually needs is a comfortable bed to relax and thus it is the most needed essential a hotel supply store can provide. A bed should be clean and well-maintained and should also be well-placed in the space to allow for adequate circulation. Some hotels take the liberty of being creative with their pillow and blanket offers, which is fine as long as the guests are happy with the options.
- Attentive phone answering:
The customary policy in hotels is to answer the phone within three rings; sadly, this does not happen as frequently as it should. So, regardless of the hotel classification, the property must assign a qualified person who can effectively and efficiently address a guest’s inquiries and concerns, referring them to the relevant department only if absolutely necessary.
- Simple and yummy food:
The availability of tasty food is what will definitely attract the customers. Access to convenient and affordable food is turning from a plus to a must.
- Environment-friendly products:
It should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention to customer preferences in general that demand for environment-friendly items is increasing. Customers are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of the things they use.
- Lighting:
This is a widespread problem in many hotels. Most hotels lack enough lighting in their rooms, from toilets to bedside lamps, which is inconvenient for guests. Improved lighting improves the guestroom experience and also provides a sense of security.
- Check-in/out:
The hotels need to stay focused on certain elements of a check-in/check-out process that really affect a guest’s stay. When guests arrive at the hotel or visit the lobby, they should know what to do or where to go. They should have immediate access to a source that handles their check-in/check-out and any payment difficulties, whether it’s an iPad or a front desk staff.