Steps to follow to open your first hotel

Opening a small hotel is a dream for those who enjoy interacting with people and want to run their own business. Unfortunately, opening your doors isn’t enough to get it right the first time. It takes careful research, management and financial planning to build a successful hotel. Keep all this in mind and follow our advice!

Market research involves gathering and analyzing information to identify the market and its characteristics. You need to ask yourself the right questions. Thanks to this study, you’ll be able to identify your competitors, suppliers, customers and their different expectations. You can also position yourself on price and set your strategy to attract the maximum number of customers. This way you can check whether your project is viable.

Your location must meet the needs of your target audience. Your catchment area needs to be sufficiently large, and you need to be close to shops, places to live and tourist attractions. Parking is also available. Being located close to an airport or train station is a real bonus, not to mention public transport. Your hotel must be well connected.

Don’t be too hasty in your choice of premises. This decision is crucial. In fact, choosing premises that are in good condition and comply perfectly with health and safety regulations can save you months of investment in renovations.

For your launch strategy to work in a sector as competitive as the hotel industry, you absolutely must promote your establishment through a website. This will also make it easier for your future customers to find you, and will help you rank well.

This is the ideal opportunity to define your graphic charter. You can also include images of the rooms and suites you have available. And offer an online reservation system.

To build awareness of your hotel and win the loyalty of your customers, you need an effective marketing strategy.

So, rely first on network marketing or what is more commonly known as “word of mouth”.

Don’t forget to master your digital reputation, given that all bookings are now made online. Manage your social networks through community management.

You can promote your establishment by developing partnerships with other tourism operators: travel agencies, tourist offices, guidebooks.

Welcoming your travelers is a decisive factor in determining how the rest of their stay will unfold. A friendly, smiling welcome is a must. Register your customers’ arrival and deal with administrative formalities. When they leave, prepare invoices and collect payment.

In addition, for a successful welcome, inform guests about the services offered by the hotel, cultural and gastronomic activities in your town, and give them the wifi code and useful numbers. Alternatively, go digital! Just let them scan the QR code they’ll find in their room, and they’ll have access to your digital welcome booklet on their mobile. Simple and effective!