As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on and continues to impact businesses worldwide, it is hard to miss one of the most impacted industries, hospitality. Within the hospitality sector, hotels have lost a significant amount of revenue. As hotels begin to reopen, they are being met with low occupancy and wary travelers. How can hotels re-engage with their travelers, make them feel more comfortable and willing to stay, and combat low occupancy and lost revenue?
A poll shows that a smartphone is the most valued travel companion of 76% of travelers, while 70% of travelers book their hotel on a smartphone. In 2019, there were 204 billion mobile apps downloaded worldwide and 3.2 billion smartphone users. That equates to an average of roughly 63 mobile apps on each smartphone. This seems like a no-brainer, hotels, inns, bed & breakfasts, and motels should have a mobile app to keep up with the evolving hospitality world.
What can a mobile app do to help your hotel?
Reserve on Mobile
With a mobile app, your guests can book their rooms directly in the app. This is great for travelers who are on-the-go, stuck at the airport with limited access to a computer and prefer mobile.
Virtual Check-In
No longer will you force your visitors to stand in long check-in lines. With a mobile app, your guests can skip the lines, check-in, and access their room right through the app on their smartphone.
Showcase and Sell Add-Ons Before and During the Stay
Does your guest want a bottle of champagne waiting for them in their room when they arrive? No longer will your guest have to call and request this, they can order it in the app before their arrival. A mobile app gives you the ability to market and up-sell to your guests before and during their stay. Does a guest want in-room dining? No longer will your guests have to call and order; they can do it all right in the app.
Provide Updates and Information
The mobile app can help you communicate with your guests in an easy, efficient way that is personalized to each guest. You can opt to send notifications before the guest’s check-in to ensure they know how to access the property or ask for in-app feedback after the guest’s stay. The options are almost limitless on how and what you can communicate with your guests.
Customer Loyalty Program
You can now build optimal engagement with your guests by launching an in-app loyalty program. Guests can receive upgrades, accumulate points, manage their stay preferences, etc. A rewards program is a great way to boost sales and keep your customers engaged.
The options available to hotels with a mobile app are almost unlimited. The mobile app can boost sales via marketing and upselling, but it can also keep your guests engaged and provide a more efficient and pleasant experience for the guests. We at Pioneer believe that mobile apps for hotels will begin to take-off once travel becomes normality again.