While we always think it is best to provide a fast and efficient check-in process for your guests, there are advantages to having them check –in more than one. We’re not talking about having them visit the front desk every time they come into the hotel during their stay; we’re referring to incentivizing your guests to “check-in” via their mobile phone so that you can enhance their experience and create an opportunity to spend a little more at your hotel during their stay.
There are multiple ways of checking into an establishment via mobile phones. There are applications like Foursquare and features on Facebook that allow individuals to tag themselves at a location and share that with their social circles and online followings; you can also set up on your hotel’s mobile site with location aware capabilities which can then alert you to their presence at your hotel. By offering different check-in points around the location, such as the pool, gym, or restaurant, you can then enhance their experience by offering a reward for doing so – such as a discounted service at the spa for gym users or a free appetizer for a guest in the restaurant.
By encouraging guests to publicize their location in and around your hotel, you can gain valuable information about the kinds of offers they respond to, allowing you to better tailor your marketing efforts. But you’ll need to ensure that guests are offered the ability to opt-in and -out of your offers to protect their privacy. Ignoring their requests will not only tarnish your business’ image, but could cause trouble for you in relation to the new Anti-Spam laws in Canada.
If done right, marketing your hotel this way can have a big effect on your bottom line. Guests who enjoy and regularly take advantage of the personalized offers you send them will not only be more likely to return, but also recommend your business to their networks, increasing your potential customer base and expanding your marketing strategies as more and more people check –in.
